carmustine (injection/implant)

What is the most important information I should know about carmustine?

What is carmustine?

Carmustine is used to treat brain tumors, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Carmustine is sometimes given with other cancer medicines, with radiation or after brain surgery.

Carmustine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving carmustine?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• lung disease or breathing problems;
• bone marrow suppression; or
• kidney disease.

Receiving carmustine injection may increase your risk of developing other cancers, such as leukemia. Ask your doctor about this risk.

• If you are a woman, do not use carmustine if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while receiving carmustine. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last injection or after implant placement.
• If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last injection or after implant placement.
• Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using carmustine.

This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because carmustine can harm an unborn baby.

How is carmustine given?

Carmustine injection is given as an infusion into a vein, usually once every 6 weeks. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

This medicine must be given slowly, and the infusion can take at least 2 hours to complete.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when carmustine is injected.

Carmustine implant is placed in your brain after brain tumor surgery.

Carmustine can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while receiving carmustine?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of carmustine?

You may have an infusion reaction during the injection or within 2 hours afterward. This may include skin redness, eye redness and severe warmth or tingling under your skin.

Some side effects may not occur many weeks or even years after you receive carmustine.

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• a seizure;
• unexplained weight loss;
• little or no urination; or
• pain, burning, swelling, or skin changes where the injection was given;
• slow healing of your incision after carmustine implant placement;
• lung problems --a dry cough or hack, shortness of breath (especially with exercise), rapid but shallow breathing, tiredness, body aches, clubbing (widening and rounding) of your fingertips or toes;
• increased pressure inside your skull --sudden vision problems, severe headache, vomiting, dizziness; or
• signs of meningitis --fever, neck stiffness, increased sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness.

Common side effects may include:

• bleeding, bruising;
• tiredness;
• nausea, vomiting; or
• breathing problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect carmustine?

Other drugs may affect carmustine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about carmustine.