Dosage is individualized based on body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications and type of cancer treated. It is given intravenously (usually with another cancer medication such as paclitaxel) and usually administered every 21 days.

Carboplatin is a platinum-containing medication that treats various forms of cancer. It prevents the growth of cancer cells by disrupting their ability to produce DNA, which is necessary for reproduction of cells.

Common side effects:

• constipation
• diarrhea
• hair loss
• nausea/vomiting
• taste disturbances
• tiredness and weakness

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• changes in hearing or vision
• fever or chills
• lower back or side pain with fever or chills
• numbness or tingling in fingers and toes
• pain where injection took place
• signs of bleeding (e.g., bloody, black, or tarry stools, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, blood in the urine, unusual bruising or bleeding, cuts that won't stop bleeding, nosebleeds)
• skin rash or itching
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Make sure you tell your doctor about any other medical problems, especially:

Chickenpox (including recent exposure) or Shingles—Risk of severe disease affecting other parts of the body
Hearing problems—May be worsened by carboplatin
Infection—Carboplatin decreases your body's ability to fight infection

Bleeding problems - carboplatin can increase the risk of bleeding

Your doctor will monitor your kidney function and electrolytes during therapy with carboplatin. If the kidneys are not working properly, more side effects to this medication may occur.  

Carboplatin can cause reversible reductions in white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells. Your doctor will monitor your blood work.
Carboplatin can cause nerve damage that results in pain and loss of balance. This damage may be reversible but recovery is slow.
Almost all patients treated with carboplatin will experience nausea and vomiting. Your health care team will advise you on ways to treat and prevent this side effect.

Do not use this medication if you have a history of severe allergic reaction to cisplatin, carboplatin, other platinum-containing formulations or mannitol.
Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while taking carboplatin

Drug interactions: Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Docetaxel
• tobramycin (and other aminoglycosides)
• amphotericin B
• azathioprine
• docetaxel
• echinacea
• pimecrolimus/tacrolimus
• leflunomide

Use in pregnancy:  There is a possibility of birth defect if either the man or woman is using carboplatin at the time of conception, or if it is taken during pregnancy. Effective birth control should be practiced while using this medication. This medication may harm the baby if used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Use in breastfeeding:  It is not known if carboplatin passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before  breastfeeding.