Paraplatin

Generic name: carboplatin [ KAR-boe-PLA-tin ]
Drug class: Alkylating agents

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jan 18, 2023.

What is Paraplatin?

Paraplatin is a cancer medication that interferes with with the division of rapidly multiplying cells, particularly cancer cells, and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Paraplatin injection is a presciption medicine used together with other cancer drugs to treat ovarian cancer.

Before and after Paraplatin treatment, your doctor may give you medication to lessen the nausea and vomiting associated with this cancer treatment

Warnings

You may have a severe allergic reaction within minutes of receiving a Paraplatin injection. Your caregivers will quickly treat you if you if this occurs. You may be given medicine to help prevent an allergic reaction.

You should not receive Paraplatin if you have severe bleeding or bone marrow suppression.

Paraplatin can harm your kidneys, and this effect is increased when you also use certain other medicines harmful to the kidneys. Before you receive this medicine, tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Many other drugs (including some over-the-counter medicines) can be harmful to the kidneys.

Paraplatin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. Call your doctor if you have unusual bruising or bleeding, or signs of infection (fever, chills, body aches).

Before taking this medicine

You should not be treated with Paraplatin if you are allergic to carboplatin, or if you have:

• severe bleeding;

• severe bone marrow suppression; or

• if you have had a severe allergic reaction to similar cancer drugs such as oxaliplatin or cisplatin.

To make sure Paraplatin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• kidney disease;

• a weak immune system; or

• if you have received Paraplatin in the past.

Carboplatin may harm an unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using Paraplatin.

How is Paraplatin given?

Paraplatin is given as an infusion into a vein, usually given once every 4 weeks. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when Paraplatin is injected.

You may be given other medications to help prevent serious side effects or an allergic reaction. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

Paraplatin can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

Your kidney and liver function may also need to be tested.

You may need blood transfusions while you are being treated with Paraplatin.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Ovarian Cancer:

SINGLE AGENT THERAPY for use in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer:
360 mg/m2 by IV on day 1 every 4 weeks (alternatively, the Paraplatin dose may be calculated by the Calvert formula below). Usually, single intermittent courses should not be repeated until the neutrophil count is at least 2000 and the platelet count is at least 100,000.

COMBINATION THERAPY (with cyclophosphamide) for use in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (an effective combination for previously untreated patients):
-Carboplatin: 300 mg/m2 by IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles (alternatively, the carboplatin dose may be calculated by the Calvert formula below)
-Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 IV on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles
-Intermittent courses of carboplatin in combination with cyclophosphamide should not be repeated until the neutrophil count is at least 2000 and the platelet count is at least 100,000.

FORMULA DOSING: Another way to determine the initial dose is the use of a mathematical formula based on a patient's preexisting renal function or renal function and desired platelet nadir (renal excretion is the major route of elimination for this drug). The use of this formula allows compensation for patient variations in pretreatment renal function that might otherwise result in either under dosing (in patients with above average renal function) or overdosing (in patients with impaired renal function).
-CALVERT FORMULA: Total Dose (mg) = (target AUC) x (GFR + 25); Note: With the Calvert formula, the total dose of carboplatin is calculated in mg, not mg/m2

Comments:
-This drug is usually administered by an infusion lasting 15 minutes or longer.
-No pre- or post-treatment hydration or forced diuresis is required.
-The target AUC of 4 to 6 mg/mL/min using single agent carboplatin appears to provide the most appropriate dose range in previously treated patients.
-To avoid potential toxicity due to overdosing, if a patient's GFR is estimated based on serum creatinine measured by the standardized Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry (IDMS) method rather than using an actual GFR measurement, a capping of the dose of carboplatin for the desired exposure (AUC) has been recommended.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss an appointment for your Paraplatin injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using Paraplatin?

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Ask your doctor before getting any vaccine while you are being treated with Paraplatin. Also avoid coming into contact with anyone who recently received an oral polio vaccine. In the US, polio vaccine is available only as an injection, but the oral form may still be in use in other countries.

Paraplatin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Paraplatin: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You may have a severe allergic reaction within minutes of receiving a Paraplatin injection. Your caregivers will quickly treat you if you if this occurs.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe or ongoing nausea and vomiting;

• numbness or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;

• vision problems;

• hearing problems, ringing in your ears;

• skin changes where the medicine was injected;

• low blood cell counts - fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or

• low magnesium - dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling.

Common Paraplatin side effects may include:

• low blood cell counts;

• nausea, vomiting;

• abnormal liver function tests;

• low magnesium;

• temporary hair loss; or

• pain or weakness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Paraplatin?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• an antibiotic such as amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, or tobramycin.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with carboplatin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Paraplatin only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 7.01.