Carboplatin is a prescription chemotherapy medication. It is approved for treating
ovarian cancer.
Carboplatin was originally made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and was sold under the name Paraplatin®. However, brand-name Paraplatin is no longer available, and generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
Carboplatin is part of a group of medications called platinum analogues. It also belongs to a larger group of chemotherapy drugs known as alkylating agents. Carboplatin kills cells (including cancer cells and normal cells) by causing abnormal linkages in DNA, the genetic material of cells. This is known as cross-linking.
When and How to Take Carboplatin
Some general considerations to keep in mind during treatment with carboplatin include the following:
- This medication comes in injectable form. Your healthcare provider will administer it intravenously via an IV infusion (also known as an "IV drip"), typically once every four weeks, for a certain number of treatments. The total length of time the infusion will last depends on several factors, such as your dosage and whether you are receiving other IV medications.
- Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you feel any burning or stinging while receiving the infusion, as this may be a sign that the medication is leaking outside the vein (a situation that can be quite serious).
- Most people receive carboplatin at their healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or an "infusion center."
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Chemotherapy works best when it is taken "on schedule," although often the side effects that occur limit a person's ability to stay on schedule with the full dose.
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