Lomustine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Lomustine interferes with the growth of
cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.
Lomustine is used to treat cancerous brain tumors and the blood cancer Hodgkin's disease.
Lomustine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lomustine?
Before taking lomustine, tell your doctor if you have
had recent vaccinations;
liver disease;
have bone marrow problems;
have a history of lung or breathing problems; or
kidney disease.
You may not be able to take lomustine, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Lomustine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that lomustine is known to
cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Lomustine may also affect egg production in women and sperm
production in men.
Do not
take lomustine without first talking to your doctor if you
are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended
during treatment with lomustine.
It is not known whether lomustine passes into breast milk.
Do not
take
lomustine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take lomustine?
Take lomustine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions,
ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain them to you.
Take each oral dose with a large glass of water.
Taking lomustine on an empty stomach may reduce nausea and vomiting. Check with your
doctor if vomiting occurs shortly after taking a dose of lomustine. Your doctor may want you to take
another dose, but do not do this without checking with your doctor first. Nausea and vomiting usually
last less than 24 hours following a dose of lomustine, however decreased appetite may last for several
days.
Lomustine is usually given as a single dose which may be repeated in six or more weeks
following recovery of the blood. To get the correct dose, you may be given a combination of two or
more different types and colors of capsules.
Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical
evaluations during treatment with lomustine to monitor progress and side effects.
Store lomustine tablets at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep this
product out of the reach of children.
What happens if I miss a dose of lomustine?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of lomustine.
Where can I get more information about lomustine?
Your pharmacist has information about lomustine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of lomustine?
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 bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; or fever, chills, sore
throat, or signs of infection);
shortness of breath or dry cough;
swelling of feet or lower legs;
little or no urine production;
yellowing of the eyes or skin; or
mental confusion.
Other less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk to your
doctor if you experience
loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting;
mouth sores;
temporary hair loss;
visual changes;
disorientation;
fatigue or tiredness;
decreased coordination; or
speech disturbances.
In some cases, second cancers have been reported to occur during and
following treatment with lomustine. Also, lomustine has been associated with the lung disorder
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 lomustine?
Lomustine 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 lomustine 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); lung problems (shortness
of breath, dry cough); swelling of the feet or lower legs; mental confusion; liver problems (yellowing of
the skin or eyes); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with
lomustine.
In some cases, second cancers have been reported to occur during and following treatment with
lomustine. Also, lomustine 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 lomustine?
Lomustine 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 lomustine.
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.
What other drugs will affect lomustine?
Do not receive "live" vaccines during treatment with lomustine. Administration of a live
vaccine may be dangerous during treatment with lomustine.
Other drugs may interact with lomustine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products, during treatment with
lomustine.
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.
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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
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given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009