Carmustine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Carmustine interferes with the growth of
cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Carmustine is used to treat cancerous brain tumors and some types of blood cancer (multiple
myeloma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas).
Carmustine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking carmustine?
Before taking carmustine, tell your doctor if you have
had recent vaccinations;
blood or bone marrow problems;
kidney disease; or
liver disease.
You may not be able to take carmustine, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Carmustine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that carmustine is known to
cause birth defects in an unborn baby.
Do not
take carmustine without first talking to
your doctor if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive
measures are recommended during treatment with carmustine.
It is not known whether carmustine passes into breast milk.
Do not
take
carmustine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take carmustine?
Carmustine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with carmustine
depending upon the type of cancer being treated and other factors. Talk to your doctor if you have any
questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
The Gliadel wafers are surgically implanted in the brain where they release the medication and
gradually dissolve.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with carmustine to monitor progress and side effects.
Your healthcare provider will store carmustine injection or wafers as directed by the
manufacturer. If you are storing carmustine injection at home, follow the directions provided by your
healthcare provider
What happens if I miss a dose of carmustine?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of carmustine.
Where can I get more information about carmustine?
Your pharmacist has information about carmustine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of carmustine?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical
attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
decreased bone marrow function and blood problems
(extreme fatigue; unusual easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever,
chills, sore throat or signs of infection);
seizures, brain swelling, or brain infection (Gliadel wafers
only);
shortness of breath or dry cough;
abdominal pain or yellowing of the eyes or skin; or
little or no urine production.
Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your
doctor if you experience
nausea or vomiting;
intense flushing of the skin and reddening of the eyes;
redness, burning, or irritation at the injection site.
headache; or
rash.
In some cases, second cancers have been reported to occur during and
following treatment with carmustine. Also, carmustine has been associated with the lung disorders
pulmonary fibrosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side
effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about carmustine?
Carmustine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider
experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Serious side effects have been reported with the use of carmustine including: allergic reactions
(difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone
marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry
stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); severe nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and loss of appetite; and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from
treatment with carmustine.
In some cases, second cancers have been reported to occur during and following treatment with
carmustine. Also, carmustine has been associated with the lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis. Talk to
your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.
What should I avoid while taking carmustine?
Carmustine can lower the activity of your immune system making you susceptible to infections.
Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses and do not receive
vaccines that contain live strains of a virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) during treatment with
carmustine. In addition, avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live
vaccine. There is a chance that the virus can be passed on to you.
Skin accidentally exposed to carmustine injection should be rinsed thoroughly with soap and
warm water.
What other drugs will affect carmustine?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with carmustine. Administration of a live
vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with carmustine.
Other drugs may interact with carmustine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with
carmustine.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not
a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009