Carboplatin
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Carboplatin Kabi.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Carboplatin Kabi against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet in a safe place. You may need to read it again.
What Carboplatin Kabi is used for
Carboplatin Kabi is used to treat various types of cancer, such as.
- cancer of the testes
- ovarian cancer
- a type of cancer called sarcoma
- cancer of the brain and/or spinal cord
- some types of lung cancer
- cancer of the head and neck
- neuroblastoma, a cancer of nerves and the adrenal glands.
Carboplatin Kabi belongs to a group of medicines called antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines. You may also hear of these being called chemotherapy medicines. Carboplatin belongs to the group of anticancer medicines called the platinum complexes.
Carboplatin Kabi works by killing cancer cells and/or stopping cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
Carboplatin Kabi is often used in combination with other medicines to treat cancer.
Your doctor may have prescribed Carboplatin Kabi for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Carboplatin Kabi has been prescribed for you.
Carboplatin Kabi is not addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you are given Carboplatin Kabi
When you must not be given it
Do not have Carboplatin Kabi if you have an allergy to Carboplatin Kabi or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Carboplatin Kabi may include:
- shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching, hives or flushed, red skin
- dizziness or lightheadedness
Do not have Carboplatin Kabi if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- severe kidney problems
- condition of the blood with a reduced number of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets
Tell your doctor if you have an infection or high temperature. Your doctor may decide to delay your treatment until the infection has gone. A mild illness, such as a cold, is not usually a reason to delay treatment.
Females: tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Like most cytotoxic medicines Carboplatin Kabi is not recommended for use during pregnancy. If there is any need to consider Carboplatin Kabi during your pregnancy, your doctor or pharmacist will discuss with you the benefits and risks of using it.
Males: tell your doctor or pharmacist if your partner intends to become pregnant while you are using Carboplatin Kabi or shortly after you have stopped using Carboplatin Kabi.
Carboplatin Kabi may cause birth defects if either the male or female is using it at the time of conception. It is recommended that you use some kind of birth control while you are using Carboplatin Kabi and for at least 12 weeks after you stop using it. Your doctor will discuss this with you.
Do not breastfeed while taking Carboplatin Kabi. It is not known whether carboplatin passes into breast milk and therefore there is a possibility that the breast-fed baby may be affected.
If you are not sure whether you should start having Carboplatin Kabi, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
- any other medicines
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
- kidney problems
- peripheral neuropathy, which you may notice as numbness or weakness in your arms and legs
- condition of the blood with a reduced number of red / white blood cells / platelets
- bleeding problems
- hearing problems
- herpes zoster infections (also known as shingles)
- chicken pox (now or recently), or if you have been in recent contact with someone who has chicken pox.
Tell your doctor about any other treatments you have had for cancer, including radiation treatment.
Tell you doctor if you have had previous treatment with cisplatin.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start having Carboplatin Kabi.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are having any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Carboplatin Kabi may interfere with each other. These include:
- other medicines used to treat cancer, such as paclitaxel and cyclophosphamide
- some antibiotics used to treat serious infections
- some vaccines (ask your doctor)
These medicines may be affected by Carboplatin Kabi, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to have different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Do not have any vaccinations (immunisations) without your doctor’s approval while you are being treated with carboplatin, and for up to 12 months after you stop treatment with it. Carboplatin may lower your body’s resistance to infection and there is a chance that you may get the infection that the immunisation is intended to prevent.
In addition, other people living in the same household should not take oral polio vaccine (Sabin) since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while having Carboplatin Kabi.
How Carboplatin Kabi is given
How much is given
Your doctor will decide what dose you will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight, kidney function, blood counts and other chemotherapy medicines you are being given.
Carboplatin Kabi may be given alone or in combination with other drugs.
Several courses of Carboplatin Kabi therapy may be needed depending on your response to treatment.
Additional treatment may not be repeated until your blood cell numbers return to acceptable levels and any uncontrolled effects have been controlled.
Ask your doctor if you want to know more about the dose of Carboplatin Kabi you receive.
How it is given
Carboplatin Kabi is diluted into a fluid bag and given as an infusion (drip) into your veins, usually over 15 to 60 minutes.
Carboplatin Kabi must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
How long it is given
Carboplatin Kabi is usually given as a single infusion on one day. This is called one cycle of chemotherapy. Cycles are usually repeated about 4 weeks apart. Your doctor will decide how many of these cycles you will need.
Overdose
As Carboplatin Kabi is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any side effects after being given Carboplatin Kabi, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital. You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of a Carboplatin Kabi overdose include the side effects listed below in the ‘Side Effects’ section, but are usually of a more severe nature.
While you are being given Carboplatin Kabi
Things you must do
Be sure to keep all your doctor’s appointments so your progress can be checked. Your doctor may want to do some blood and other tests from time to time to check on your progress and detect any unwanted side effects.
Keep follow up appointments with your doctor. It is important to have your follow-up cycles of Carboplatin Kabi at the appropriate times to get the best effects from your treatments.
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are having Carboplatin Kabi.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist that you are being treated with Carboplatin Kabi.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your surgeon or anaesthetist that you are having Carboplatin Kabi.
If you become pregnant while being treated with Carboplatin Kabi, tell your doctor immediately.
Carboplatin Kabi can lower the number of white blood cells and platelets in your blood. This means that you have an increased chance of getting an infection or bleeding. Take the following precautions to reduce your risk of infection or bleeding:
- Avoid people who have infections. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you may be getting an infection, or if you get a fever, chills, cough, hoarse throat, lower back or side pain or find it painful or difficult to urinate.
- Be careful when using a toothbrush, toothpick or dental floss. Your doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your doctor before having any dental work.
- Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a razor or nail cutters.
- Avoid contact sports or other situations where you may bruise or get injured.
Things you must not do
Do not give Carboplatin Kabi to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not have Carboplatin Kabi to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Carboplatin Kabi affects you.
As with other medicines, Carboplatin Kabi may cause dizziness or tiredness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Carboplatin Kabi before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or light-headed. If this occurs do not drive. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or light-headedness may be worse.
Side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being treated with Carboplatin Kabi. Like other medicines that treat cancer, Carboplatin Kabi may have unwanted side effects, some of which may be serious. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhoea or constipation
- stomach pain
- sore mouth
- tiredness or weakness
- sore muscles or joints
- pain at the injection site
- unusual hair loss or thinning
- taste disturbance or loss of taste
These are the more common or less serious side effects of Carboplatin Kabi.
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
- hearing problems
- buzzing or ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
- blurred vision or other changes in vision
- tingling in the fingers or toes
- tiredness, headaches, being short of breath when exercising, looking pale
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor or nurse immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
- problems with urination such as pain or difficulty
- severe nausea or vomiting
- signs of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, skin rash
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
The benefits and side effects of Carboplatin Kabi may take some time to occur. Therefore even after you have finished your Carboplatin Kabi treatment you should tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the side effects listed in this section.
Storage
Carboplatin Kabi will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Product description
What it looks like
Carboplatin Kabi is a clear, colourless to pale yellow solution in a glass vial.
Ingredients
Active ingredient:
- carboplatin
Other ingredients:
- water for injections
Carboplatin Kabi does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Fresenius Kabi Australia Pty Limited
964 Pacific Highway
Pymble NSW 2073
Australia.
Telephone: (02) 9391 5555
Carboplatin Kabi is available in the following sizes:
50 mg/5 mLAUST R 171244
150 mg/15 mLAUST R 171243
450 mg/45 mLAUST R 171241
Date of preparation of this leaflet:
07 October 2011
Published by MIMS January 2012