If you’re looking at treatment options for cancer, you may want to learn more about carboplatin.

Carboplatin is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat ovarian cancer in adults. There is no brand-name version of this medication at this time.

Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug. It comes as a liquid solution inside vials. You’ll receive carboplatin as an intravenous (IV) infusion from a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic.

You may be wondering about the cost of carboplatin chemotherapy. Keep reading for details on carboplatin and cost, and how to save money on prescriptions.

Note: For more details on carboplatin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The price you pay for carboplatin can vary. Your carboplatin price may depend on the following:

  • your treatment plan
  • your insurance coverage
  • how much you have to pay for an office visit with your doctor to receive carboplatin

For helpful tips on managing the cost of cancer treatments, visit this resource from the American Cancer Society.

To find out how much you’ll pay for carboplatin, talk with your doctor or insurance provider.

Below are answers to some common questions about carboplatin and cost.

Does vial size (such as 150 mg or 450 mg) affect the price of my carboplatin injection?

It’s possible that carboplatin’s vial size could affect the price of your injection.

Carboplatin comes as a liquid solution inside vials. You’ll receive carboplatin injections from a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic.

Carboplatin is available in the following strengths per vial:

  • 50 milligrams (mg)
  • 150 mg
  • 450 mg
  • 600 mg

The number of vials you’ll use for each carboplatin injection depends on the dose you’re prescribed.

Your exact carboplatin dose can depend on a few factors, such as:

  • your age
  • your weight
  • the severity of your condition

Your doctor will prescribe the dose of carboplatin that works best for you.

To find out how vial size may affect the price you pay for your carboplatin injection, talk with your doctor.

I’ll be getting both carboplatin and paclitaxel for my cancer. Will the cost of this combination of drugs be more than just carboplatin alone?

Yes, most likely. The cost of carboplatin and paclitaxel (Abraxane) together may be higher than the cost of carboplatin alone.

Carboplatin and paclitaxel are both used to treat ovarian cancer. They’re typically prescribed together as the first treatment you’ll receive after you’ve had surgery to remove the cancer.

Your doctor can tell you more about the cost of carboplatin and paclitaxel compared with the cost of carboplatin alone.

Carboplatin only comes as a generic drug. It’s not currently available in a brand-name version. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Carboplatin was based on Paraplatin, which is no longer available.

Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

If you need help covering the cost of carboplatin or understanding your insurance, check out these websites:

On these sites, you can find insurance information, details on drug assistance programs, and links to savings cards and other services.

If you have questions about how you can pay for carboplatin, you may also want to talk with your doctor.

If you still have questions about the cost of carboplatin, talk with your doctor. They may be able to give you a better idea of what you’ll pay for this drug. But if you have health insurance, you’ll need to talk to your insurance provider to learn the actual cost you’d pay for carboplatin.

Examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor or insurance provider include:

  • Does my health insurance need to pre-approve my carboplatin treatment before I can start it?
  • What will my out-of-pocket costs be for carboplatin?
  • Will I pay more for my cancer treatment if I take carboplatin with other chemotherapy drugs?
  • What are my options if I can’t afford carboplatin treatment?

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.