Paraplatin

How does it work?

Carboplatin is an anticancer (cytotoxic) medicine. Cancers form when some cells within the body multiply uncontrollably and abnormally. There are two types of cancer. Solid cancers where a lump forms e.g. the bone, muscle, brain cells etc. divide and multiply abnormally. The second type are leukaemias and lymphomas where the blood cells divide and multiply abnormally. Other characteristics of cancer besides uncontrolled growth include the ability of these abnormal cells to invade other tissues next to them or to break away from the original site, travel through the blood or lymph, and establish a new cancer at a different site of the body. These are called metastases. Like normal healthy cells, cancer cells go through a continuous process of change. Each cell divides into two daughter cells. These cells grow, rest and then divide again. The medicines used in chemotherapy are powerful chemicals designed to interupt this cycle and stop cells from growing. Several different types of anticancer medicines are used in chemotherapy. Each type kills cells at a different stage of the cell's life cycle. Each does its job in a different way. Carboplatin is a platinium (heavy metal) compound. It works by preventing the production of genetic material (DNA) by the cell. It does this by forming links with the strands of DNA and by doing so it binds them together. This prevents the cell from reproducing. Unfortunately, anticancer medicines will also affect the growth and division of normal, healthy cells in the same way, such as blood, gut and hair cells. This can therefore cause several of the side effects seen with chemotherapy e.g. hair loss. The body's immune system also becomes suppressed increasing the risk of infections. In most chemotherapy regimens, doses are administered in courses at various intervals to allow normal cells to recover from the adverse effects of the anticancer medicines between doses. However, during this period, cancer cells will also recover and start to replicate again. Successful treatment depends on the administration of the next course of therapy before the cancer has regrown to its previous size and the net effect is to decrease the amount of cancer with each successive course. Carboplatin is used principally in combination with other anticancer medicines. It is administered by intravenous infusion only. As well as the cancers listed below, carboplatin is undergoing trial in other types of cancer.

What is it used for?

Cancer of the ovaries

Lung cancer

Warning!

Monitoring of kidney and ear function should be carried out regularly whilst taking this medicine.

People taking this medicine should have regular blood tests to check the levels of their blood components.

Your liver functioning should be monitored while you are taking this medicine. Symptoms that may suggest a liver problem include persistent nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, or the development of jaundice (a yellow colouring to the skin and the whites of the eyes). Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

Special precautions must be taken by those preparing and handling cytotoxic medicines, in order to prevent self-contamination.

It is advisable to monitor for any signs of peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves causing weakness and numbness)

Aluminium containing equipment e.g. needles, syringes should not be used during preparation or administration of this medicine

Use with caution in

Decreased kidney function

Not to be used in

History of allergic reaction to drug or other platinium containing compounds

Severe myelosuppression (reduction in blood cell production in the bone marrow)

Severely decreased kidney function

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine should not be used in pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Disorder of the peripheral nerves causing weakness and numbness (peripheral neuropathy)

Nausea and vomiting

Low red blood cell count (anaemia)

Alteration in taste

Loss of appetite

Decrease in the number of white blood cells in the blood (leucopenia)

Decrease in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia)

Disturbances in the levels of chemical components (electrolytes) in the blood

Decreased immunity to infections (immunosuppression)

Allergic reaction to active ingredient

Kidney damage

Hearing problems (ototoxicity)

Alteration in results of liver function tests

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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