Carboplatin vs. Cytoxan

• Are Carboplatin and Cytoxan the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Carboplatin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Cytoxan?
• What is Carboplatin?
• What is Cytoxan?
• What Drugs Interact with Carboplatin?
• What Drugs Interact with Cytoxan?
• How Should Carboplatin Be Taken?
• How Should Cytoxan Be Taken?

Carboplatin and Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) are anti-cancer medications used to treat ovarian cancer.

A difference is that carboplatin is also indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma recurrent after prior chemotherapy, including patients who have been previously treated with cisplatin.

Another difference is that Cytoxan is used to treat several other types of cancer, including lymphomas, leukemias, and breast cancers, among others. Cytoxan is also used to treat certain cases of nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease) in children.

A brand name of carboplatin is Paraplatin.

Common side effects of Carboplatin include:

• nausea and vomiting (may be severe),
• loss of appetite,
• stomach pain,
• feeling tired,
• temporary hair loss,
• body aches or pains,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• weakness, and
• injection site reactions (pain, swelling and redness)

Common side effects of Cytoxan include:

• nausea or vomiting (may be severe),
• loss of appetite,
• stomach pain or upset,
• diarrhea,
• temporary hair loss,
• a wound that will not heal,
• missed menstrual periods,
• changes in skin color (darkening), or
• changes in nails.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Cytoxan including:

• pink/bloody urine,
• unusual decrease in the amount of urine,
• mouth sores,
• unusual tiredness or weakness,
• joint pain, or
• easy bruising or bleeding.

Paraplatin (carboplatin aqueous solution) Injection is a cancer medication used to treat ovarian cancer. Paraplatin is available in generic form.

Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) is a cancer (chemotherapy) medication used to treat several types of cancer. Cytoxan is also used to treat certain cases of nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease) in children.

Carboplatin may interact with nephrotoxic compounds.

Cytoxan may interact with phenobarbital, allopurinol, digoxin, warfarin, thiazide diuretics (water pills), other chemotherapy medicines, or "live" vaccines.

The usual dosage of Paraplatin is 300mg/m2 on day 1 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles. Medication used to treat bowel disorder or prevent organ transplant rejection, antiviral medicine, pain or arthritis medicine, and injected antibiotics can interact with Paraplatin. Tell your doctor all medications you take. Do not take Paraplatin if you have severe bleeding or bone marrow suppression. Paraplatin can lower your blood cells that help your body's ability to fight infections. Do not take Paraplatin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

In treatment of cancer, the initial course of Cytoxan is usually of 40 to 50 mg/kg given intravenously (IV) in divided doses over a period of 2 to 5 days. Other intravenous regimens include 10 to 15 mg/kg given every 7 to 10 days or 3 to 5 mg/kg twice weekly. Oral Cytoxan dosing is usually in the range of 1 to 5 mg/kg/day for both initial and maintenance dosing. For non-malignant disease an oral dose of 2.5 to 3 mg/kg daily for a period of 60 to 90 days is recommended. Cytoxan may interact with phenobarbital, allopurinol, digoxin, warfarin, thiazide diuretics (water pills), other chemotherapy medicines, or "live" vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Cytoxan is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may cause harm to a fetus. Women of childbearing age and men should use birth control during treatment and for some period afterwards. This drug passes into breast milk. Because of the potential risk to the infant, breastfeeding while using this drug is not recommended.