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Overview: Carboplatin is used to treat certain types of cancer. Common side effects include hair loss, low blood cell counts, nausea, and vomiting. You may also get numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in your hands and feet. Tell your health care provider right away if you get unusual bleeding, hearing problems, or symptoms of an infection, such as a fever.

Uses

What is carboplatin used for?

Carboplatin is commonly used to treat ovarian cancer.

Carboplatin may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does carboplatin work (mechanism of action)?

Carboplatin is a type of medicine known as chemotherapy. Carboplatin is an alkylating agent. It damages DNA, which prevents the ability of cancer cells to multiply. 

How is carboplatin supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Paraplatin

Dosage forms and strengths

Carboplatin is available in an injectable form that is given by a health care provider.

How should I store carboplatin?

Carboplatin is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of carboplatin?

The most common side effects of carboplatin are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Blood disorders (see below)
  • Nausea and vomiting (see below)
  • Infections
  • Hair loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Nerve problems (see below)

There may be other side effects of carboplatin that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of carboplatin?

While less common, the most serious side effects of carboplatin are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Carboplatin may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Blood Disorders. Carboplatin can cause blood disorders, such as low neutrophils (neutropenia), low red blood cell levels (anemia), low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), and low white blood cell levels (leukopenia). Keep all appointments for blood work, so your health care provider can monitor your blood cell counts. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Frequent infection
  • Unusual weakness or tiredness
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
  • Headache
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat

Nausea and Vomiting. Carboplatin commonly causes nausea and vomiting, but these can be persistent or severe. Talk with your doctor about any stomach problems you have while using carboplatin. If you are given medicine to prevent or treat stomach problems, take it exactly as your health care provider tells you.

Hearing Problems. Cisplatin may be associated with hearing loss, which is also called ototoxicity. Tell your health care provider right away if you have hearing loss or if you hear a ringing or roaring sound in your ears.

Cancer. Carboplatin can cause a new cancer to develop. Tell your health care provider about any new symptoms that you may get.

Tissue Damage. Carboplatin is given as an infusion into a vein. If the medicine does not go into your vein, it could damage nearby tissue. Tell your health care provider right away if you have pain, swelling, warmth, or skin color changes where the medicine is being or was given.

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are using carboplatin. People who are older than 65 and people who have previously received a chemotherapy called cisplatin may be at greater risk. Call your healthcare provider if you get pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using carboplatin. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

● Reduced need to pee

● Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs

● Weakness or unusual tiredness

● Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure

● Confusion

● Nausea

● Seizures

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use carboplatin?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use carboplatin.

  • Carboplatin
  • Paraplatin
  • Any other medicine that is platinum-based
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in carboplatin.

Active Bleeding. Carboplatin is not for use by people who have significant bleeding.

Bone Marrow Suppression. Carboplatin is not for use by people who have severe bone marrow suppression.

What should I know about carboplatin before using it?

Carboplatin is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. 

While using carboplatin, avoid contact with adults or children who are sick or have infections. Tell your health care provider right away if you have signs of an infection including cough, fever, or chills. 

What should I tell my health care provider before using carboplatin?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if carboplatin is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • Chicken pox or shingles
  • Hearing problems
  • Bleeding problems
  • An infection 
  • Bone marrow problems, including pancytopenia
  • Kidney problems
  • Liver problems
  • Electrolyte imbalance, such as low potassium, magnesium, or calcium levels

Other Medicines and Supplements. Carboplatin may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using carboplatin, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Vaccines. Talk with your health care provider about any vaccines that you may need. You should not receive certain vaccines right before or while using carboplatin. Tell your health care provider about any vaccines you have recently received or have scheduled.

Pregnancy. Carboplatin may cause harm to an unborn baby. If you can become pregnant, use effective birth control  while using carboplatin. Tell your health care provider right away if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is unknown if carboplatin passes into breast milk. Do not breastfeed while receiving carboplatin. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

Interactions

Does carboplatin interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between carboplatin and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect carboplatin, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight cancer.

Does carboplatin interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using an aminoglycoside antibiotic, such as amikacin or gentamicin, which is given by injection to treat infections.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with carboplatin. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much carboplatin?

If you or someone else has used too much carboplatin, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of carboplatin?

Carboplatin is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital. Your health care provider will make sure you are receiving carboplatin as scheduled.

If you miss an appointment to get your carboplatin dose, call to make another appointment as soon as possible.