Comprehensive medication guide to Carboplatin including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$50+ per cycle copay depending on plan; covered under Medicare Part B at 80% after the $257 deductible. Commercial insurance covers under the medical benefit — out-of-pocket varies widely by plan's outpatient chemotherapy cost-sharing.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$8–$70 per vial depending on size (50 mg to 600 mg); as low as $18 with GoodRx Gold or $29 with SingleCare for the 600 mg vial. Note: carboplatin is an IV drug administered in clinical settings — discount cards may not always be accepted by infusion centers.
Medfinder Findability Score
20/100
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Carboplatin (brand name Paraplatin) is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat a wide range of cancers. It belongs to the alkylating agent class — drugs that interfere with cancer cell DNA to stop tumor growth. Carboplatin was patented in 1972 and received FDA approval in 1989, developed as a less toxic second-generation alternative to cisplatin.
Carboplatin is FDA-approved for advanced ovarian carcinoma — both as first-line treatment (in combination with paclitaxel or cyclophosphamide) and as palliative treatment for recurrent disease after prior chemotherapy. It is also widely used as standard of care (off-label) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer, triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, germ cell tumors, neuroblastoma, and brain tumors.
Carboplatin is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion over at least 15 minutes in an oncology infusion center or hospital outpatient setting. It is available in 10 mg/mL solution in four vial sizes: 50 mg, 150 mg, 450 mg, and 600 mg. It does not require IV hydration, unlike cisplatin.
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Carboplatin is a platinum coordination complex that acts as a prodrug. Once it enters a cancer cell, it undergoes a chemical activation process called aquation, where water molecules replace its cyclobutane dicarboxylate (CBDCA) ligands. This creates a highly reactive, positively charged platinum species.
The activated platinum binds to specific sites on the DNA strand — particularly purine bases — forming crosslinks within and between DNA strands. These crosslinks physically distort the DNA double helix, making it impossible for the cell to copy its DNA when it tries to divide. When DNA repair fails, the cell activates programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Carboplatin's aquation is slower than cisplatin's, giving it a longer retention half-life (~30 hours vs. 1.5–3.6 hours for cisplatin) and generally less kidney and nerve toxicity. Approximately 70% of carboplatin is excreted unchanged through the kidneys, which is why dosing uses the Calvert formula (Total Dose = Target AUC × [GFR + 25]) rather than body surface area.
50 mg / 5 mL — IV solution (10 mg/mL)
Single-dose vial
150 mg / 15 mL — IV solution (10 mg/mL)
Multi-dose vial
450 mg / 45 mL — IV solution (10 mg/mL)
Multi-dose vial
600 mg / 60 mL — IV solution (10 mg/mL)
Multi-dose vial
Carboplatin is in active FDA shortage and has been since April 2023 — one of the most significant and sustained drug shortages in modern oncology. At its 2023 peak, 93% of US cancer centers reported carboplatin shortages, and ASCO estimated up to 500,000 patients could be affected. As of April 2026, the ASHP shortage tracker confirms ongoing supply constraints: Fresenius Kabi's 60 mL vials are on back order with an early May 2026 estimated release date, and Pfizer's smaller vials are available in limited weekly allocations only.
The shortage is structural in nature: generic injectable cancer drugs like carboplatin average only ~$2 per vial at the manufacturer level, leaving little margin for capacity investment. Seven manufacturers have historically exited the carboplatin market. Platinum raw material supply chains are concentrated in South Africa (75% of world output), creating further fragility. A complete resolution requires policy-level changes to generic injectable drug economics.
Patients receiving carboplatin should proactively check supply at least 2 weeks before each scheduled infusion. medfinder calls pharmacies and infusion centers near you to find out which ones have carboplatin available — saving you the hours of phone calls that shortage navigation typically requires.
Carboplatin is not a controlled substance, but it is a highly complex chemotherapy agent that must be prescribed by a physician with specialized oncology expertise. The FDA prescribing information states that carboplatin should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, and that appropriate management of therapy and complications requires adequate treatment facilities.
Prescribers who typically order carboplatin include:
Medical oncologists (primary prescribers for most solid tumor indications)
Gynecologic oncologists (ovarian, endometrial, cervical cancers)
Thoracic oncologists (NSCLC, SCLC)
Hematologist-oncologists (germ cell tumors and other malignancies)
Pediatric oncologists (neuroblastoma, brain tumors)
Telehealth availability: Carboplatin cannot be prescribed or administered via telehealth. It requires in-person evaluation, laboratory monitoring (CBC, renal function), and IV administration in a properly equipped clinical oncology setting. Patients must receive carboplatin at an in-person infusion center or hospital outpatient facility.
No. Carboplatin is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling. It carries no abuse potential or addiction risk. However, carboplatin is classified as a hazardous drug under NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) guidelines due to its cytotoxic (cell-killing) properties and potential carcinogenicity.
As a hazardous drug, carboplatin requires special handling protocols during pharmacy preparation (closed-system transfer devices, chemotherapy gloves, dedicated compounding areas) and administration (PPE for nursing staff, proper waste disposal). These safety requirements apply to the healthcare workers handling the drug — not to patients receiving it as part of their treatment.
Because carboplatin is a prescription drug requiring IV administration in a clinical setting, it cannot be self-administered at home or dispensed at retail pharmacies. It must be prescribed by a qualified oncologist and administered under medical supervision.
Carboplatin carries FDA boxed warnings for bone marrow suppression (myelosuppression), vomiting, and anaphylactic reactions. Common side effects include:
Myelosuppression: low platelets (thrombocytopenia), low white blood cells (neutropenia), anemia — the nadir typically occurs 21–28 days after infusion
Nausea and vomiting (moderate emetogenic potential — less than cisplatin)
Fatigue and weakness
Peripheral neuropathy (numbness/tingling in hands and feet) — affects 4–15% of patients at conventional doses
Electrolyte abnormalities (low magnesium, low potassium)
Hair loss (alopecia), particularly when combined with taxanes
Loss of appetite
Serious side effects requiring immediate medical attention:
Anaphylactic reactions: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/throat, sudden blood pressure drop — can occur within minutes of infusion
Severe infection due to neutropenia — call doctor for fever ≥100.4°F (38°C)
Uncontrolled bleeding due to thrombocytopenia
Ototoxicity (hearing loss) — particularly in pediatric patients and at high doses
Cumulative anemia requiring blood transfusion
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Cisplatin
First-generation platinum agent; same mechanism but more nephrotoxic, ototoxic, and emetogenic. Requires IV hydration. No single direct substitute for carboplatin.
Oxaliplatin
Third-generation platinum; primarily used in GI cancers. An option in carboplatin-hypersensitive gynecologic cancer patients.
Paclitaxel (Taxol)
Taxane used in combination with carboplatin; can form backbone of non-platinum regimens in some shortage scenarios.
Gemcitabine
Nucleoside analogue often combined with carboplatin; used in NSCLC and ovarian cancer as part of platinum-free alternatives during shortage.
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Aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin)
majorSignificantly increases nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Avoid concurrent use when possible.
Palifermin (Kepivance)
majorMust not be given within 24 hours of carboplatin. Increases severity and duration of oral mucositis.
Other myelosuppressive agents
majorAdditive bone marrow suppression. Monitor CBC closely and adjust doses as needed.
Live vaccines
majorContraindicated during immunosuppressive chemotherapy. Risk of serious infection.
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
moderateCarboplatin decreases phenytoin levels by unknown mechanism. Monitor phenytoin levels throughout treatment.
Vancomycin
moderateIncreased nephrotoxicity. Monitor renal function and drug levels.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
moderateMay impair kidney function and affect carboplatin clearance. Also increase bleeding risk during thrombocytopenia.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin)
moderateAdditive immunosuppression and myelosuppression. Increased risk of febrile neutropenia.
Carboplatin remains one of the most important chemotherapy drugs in modern oncology — a backbone of treatment for hundreds of thousands of cancer patients each year. Its favorable toxicity profile compared to cisplatin (less nausea, less kidney damage, less need for IV hydration) has made it the preferred platinum agent for most solid tumor indications. The development of carboplatin-immunotherapy combinations has further extended its clinical relevance into the era of precision oncology.
The ongoing shortage that began in April 2023 represents a serious, structural challenge to cancer care in the United States. Patients, providers, and policymakers must all play a role in addressing the underlying economics and supply chain fragility that have kept this critical drug in shortage for over three years.
If you are a carboplatin patient or a provider caring for patients who need it, medfinder is here to help. We call pharmacies and infusion centers near you to find out which ones have carboplatin available, saving you the time and stress of navigating a drug shortage on top of a cancer diagnosis.
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