The basics
Carmustine injection is useful to treat certain types of brain tumors. Carmustine injection is also useful along with prednisone to treat multiple myeloma (a type of cancer of the bone marrow). It is also useful with other medications to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system) that has not improved or that has worsened after treatment with other medications.
Carmustine falls in a class of alkylating agents medications. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body.
Let us walk you through the key things you need to know about carmustine.
Make sure you read the IMPORTANT WARNING section at the end of this article.
How should I take carmustine?
Carmustine is injected over at least 2 hours into a vein by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility. The dosage is once every 6 weeks. It may also be injected in smaller doses once a day for 2 days in a row every 6 weeks.
Your doctor may need to delay your treatment or adjust your dose if you experience certain side effects. It is important for you to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment with carmustine.
Do not stop taking treatment without talking to your doctor. You can help them by tracking your side effects in Ankr.
What are the side effects of carmustine?
Common side effects
- nausea
- vomiting (emesis)
- headache
- chest Pain
- darkened skin
- appetite loss
- swelling, pain, redness, or burning at the injection site
- upset stomach
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Serious side effects
- extreme tiredness or weakness
- lack of energy
- loss of balance or coordination
- pale skin
- fainting (syncope)
- dizziness (vertigo)
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- decreased urination
Carmustine may increase the risk that you will develop other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risk(s) of receiving carmustine injection. If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone (1-800-332-1088).
Use the free Ankr platform or Ankr app to track your symptoms.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before receiving carmustine injection,
- tell your doctor about your allergies
- tell your doctor about other intakes
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant while you are receiving carmustine injection.
While you are on carmustine injection
- if you become pregnant while receiving carmustine, call your doctor. Carmustine may harm the fetus.
In case of an emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
Brand names
- BiCNU®
Other names
- BCNU
Last Revised – 06/30/2023, FDA-updated- 07/19/2022, SG
[ref: 08/15/2011]
Carmustine can cause a severe decrease in the number of blood cells in your bone marrow. This increases the risk that you will develop a serious infection or bleeding. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection; unusual bleeding or bruising; black and tarry stools; red blood in stools; bloody vomit; vomited material that looks like coffee grounds.
Carmustine also can cause lung damage, even years after treatment. The lung damage can cause death, especially in patients treated with carmustine as children. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lung disease.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body’s response to carmustine.
Get 24×7 support for Carmustine
Don’t go through your cancer journey alone. Use Ankr to:
(1) find the best treatment for your cancer, and
(2) get advanced warning to cut side effects by upto 52%