What is this medicine?
CARMUSTINE, BCNU (kar MUS teen) is a chemotherapy drug. It interferes with the growth of rapidly growing cells like cancer cells. This medicine is used to treat brain tumors, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
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They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-infection (especially a virus infection such as chickenpox, cold sores, or herpes)
-low blood counts like low platelets, red blood cells, or white blood cells
-lung disease
-an unusual or allergic reaction to carmustine, BCNU, other chemotherapy, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
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This drug is given as an infusion or injection into a vein. It is administered in a hospital or clinic by a specially trained health care professional.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
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It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
What may interact with this medicine?
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-cimetidine
-medicines to increase blood counts like filgrastim, pegfilgrastim, sargramostim
-other chemotherapy drugs
-some medicines for seizures like ethotoin, fosphenytoin, phenytoin
-vaccines
Talk to your doctor or health care professional before taking any of these medicines:
-acetaminophen
-aspirin
-ibuprofen
-ketoprofen
-naproxen
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
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Visit your doctor for checks on your progress. This drug may make you feel generally unwell. This is not uncommon, as chemotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Report any side effects. Continue your course of treatment even though you feel ill unless your doctor tells you to stop.
In some cases, you may be given additional medicines to help with side effects. Follow all directions for their use.
Call your doctor or health care professional for advice if you get a fever, chills or sore throat, or other symptoms of a cold or flu. Do not treat yourself. This drug decreases your body's ability to fight infections. Try to avoid being around people who are sick.
This medicine may increase your risk to bruise or bleed. Call your doctor or health care professional if you notice any unusual bleeding.
Be careful brushing and flossing your teeth or using a toothpick because you may get an infection or bleed more easily. If you have any dental work done, tell your dentist you are receiving this medicine.
Avoid taking products that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen unless instructed by your doctor. These medicines may hide a fever.
Do not become pregnant while taking this medicine. Women should inform their doctor if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information. Do not breast-feed an infant while taking this medicine.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
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Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
-allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
-low blood counts - this medicine may decrease the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. You may be at increased risk for infections and bleeding.
-signs of infection - fever or chills, cough, sore throat, pain or difficulty passing urine
-signs of decreased platelets or bleeding - bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine
-signs of decreased red blood cells - unusually weak or tired, fainting spells, lightheadedness
-breathing problems
-changes in vision
-chest pain
-fast, irregular heart beat
-high blood pressure
-seizures
-swelling of the ankles, feet, hands
-trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
-yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
-burning, pain where injected
-flushing of the skin and/or red eyes lasting about 4 hours after a dose
-headache
-loss of appetite
-nausea, vomiting
Where should I keep my medicine?
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This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
Information on use before, during and after pregnancy.
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FIRST Trimester
Class D - Adequate well-controlled or observational studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy may outweigh the potential risk. For example, the drug may be acceptable if needed in a life-threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.
SECOND Trimester
Class D - Adequate well-controlled or observational studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy may outweigh the potential risk. For example, the drug may be acceptable if needed in a life-threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.
THIRD Trimester
Class D - Adequate well-controlled or observational studies in pregnant women have demonstrated a risk to the fetus. However, the benefits of therapy may outweigh the potential risk. For example, the drug may be acceptable if needed in a life-threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.
Lactation
Avoid - This drug is known to cause harm to infants when taken by nursing mothers.
