About carmustine
Nitrosourea alkylating chemotherapy
Used for
- Treats brain tumors, including glioblastoma and medulloblastoma.
- Treats Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, usually with other medicines.
- Treats multiple myeloma, usually with other medicines.
- May be used in stem-cell transplant conditioning regimens.
Usual adult dose
Usually 150–200 mg/m² by intravenous infusion every 6 weeks; dose varies by treatment and blood counts.
Usual dose in children
Specialist-determined; dosing depends on the cancer, treatment plan, and body surface area.
Common side effects
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low blood-cell counts, increasing infection and bleeding risk
- Lung injury, sometimes delayed
- Liver or kidney problems
Important warnings
- Can cause severe, delayed bone-marrow suppression; blood counts require monitoring.
- Lung damage may occur months or years later and can be fatal.
- May cause serious allergic reactions or infusion-related flushing and pain.
- Can harm an unborn baby; treatment requires specialist supervision.
Pregnancy
May cause fetal harm. Avoid during pregnancy unless a specialist determines treatment is essential.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment because of potential serious harm to the infant.
Interactions
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can increase blood-count problems.
- Other medicines toxic to the lungs may increase lung-injury risk.
- Live vaccines may cause infection during immune suppression.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.