Carmustine
About Carmustine
Carmustine is a chemotherapeutic medicine used in the treatment of brain tumors. A tumor is defined as the formation of solid mass tissue due to the abnormal growth of cells. A brain tumor is a serious condition where the cells (cancerous or non-cancerous) grow abnormally in the brain. Carmustine is also used in the treatment of multiple myeloma in combination with prednisone, Hodgkin’s Disease, and non-Hodgkin’s Disease in combination with other approved drugs.
Carmustine contains Carmustine, which belongs to the alkylating agents class. It works by inhibiting the DNA and RNA transcription that is essential for protein synthesis. This causes shrinkage of tumor cells and thereby prevents the growth and further spread of cancerous or non-cancerous cells.
Carmustine may cause certain side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, pale skin, dizziness, stomach upset, tiredness, loss of balance, and pain at the site of injection. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor. Carmustine is a parenteral preparation. A trained healthcare professional will administer it. Hence, do not self-administer.
Carmustine should be avoided if you are allergic to it or any other components present in it. Let your doctor know about your complete medical history, including current medication, to rule out any side effects/interactions. Before administration, inform your doctor if you have liver/kidney disease, cardiac disorders, or respiratory conditions. Carmustine may cause pulmonary toxicity, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in some patients. Hence, careful monitoring should be done during the entire treatment. This medicine is known to cause fetal harm in pregnant women. Hence, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. Breastfeeding should be discontinued in nursing mothers during the treatment.
Uses of Carmustine
Medicinal Benefits
Carmustine contains Carmustine, which belongs to the alkylating agents class. It works by inhibiting the DNA and RNA transcription that is essential for protein synthesis. This causes shrinkage of tumor cells and thereby prevents the growth and further spread of cancerous or non-cancerous cells.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Carmustine
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Stomach upset
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Pale skin
- Tiredness
- Loss of balance
- Diarrhoea
- Cough
- Decreased platelet count
- Bruising or bleeding gums
- Pain at the site of injection
Drug Warnings
Carmustine should be avoided if you are allergic to it or any other components present in it. Let your doctor know about your complete medical history, including current medication, to rule out any side effects/interactions. Before administration, inform your doctor if you have liver/kidney disease, cardiac disorders, or respiratory conditions. Carmustine may cause pulmonary toxicity, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in some patients. Hence careful monitoring should be done during the entire treatment. This medicine is known to cause fetal harm in pregnant women. Hence, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. Breastfeeding should be discontinued in nursing mothers during the treatment. It is unknown whether Carmustine can be administered in children or not. If administered, close monitoring of the child is needed. Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking as it can lead to serious adverse effects.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Carmustine may interact with vaccines, antiretroviral drugs (Abacavir, Zidovudine, adefovir), immunomodulators (abatacept, etanercept), anticoagulants (acenocoumarol, warfarin), anticonvulsant drugs (phenytoin, phenobarbitone).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption and smoking.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and pulmonary disorders before receiving Carmustine.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Carmustine to prevent serious adverse effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeCarmustine is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your fetus. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Carmustine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionLimited data is available on the effect of Carmustine on breastfeeding. Hence, if you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor before receiving Carmustine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
unsafeCarmustine will be administered in the hospital setting. Hence, avoid driving.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Carmustine. A dose adjustment of this medicine or a suitable alternative may be advised based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before receiving Carmustine. A dose adjustment of this medicine or a suitable alternative may be advised based on your condition.
Children
consult your doctorLimited information is available for the use of Carmustine in children. Hence, it will be given to the children only if needed. If administered, careful monitoring of the child is needed.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- After your treatment begins, several dietary adjustments can help you control side effects.
- Anyone suffering from a chronic illness, including cancer, should consume foods high in protein, healthy fats, whole grains, and vitamins and minerals.
- Plant-based proteins are among the greatest meals to take during chemotherapy or other cancer treatments. They have the highest concentrations of vitamins and minerals, such as nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to maintain proper weight.
- Include leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, fatty fish, berries, yoghurt, apples, peaches, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, beans, and herbs.
- De-stress yourself by meditating, reading books, taking a warm bubble bath or listening to soothing music.
- Get optimal sleep; rest well.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Avoid fast and fried food, processed meats, refined carbs and added sugars.
Special Advise
- Carmustine should be administered only by a trained and experienced oncologist.
- A blood test should be performed such as LFT, RFT, and PFT, to check for liver/kidney function, and pulmonary function.
- Weekly blood tests should be done for at least six weeks after the dose is administered to check for CBC (Complete blood count).
- Carmustine should be administered carefully without touching the skin as it can cause serious hyperpigmentation. Hence where gloves during administration.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Brain Tumors: It is a serious condition where the cells (cancerous or non-cancerous) grow abnormally in the brain. A tumor is defined as the formation of solid mass tissue due to the abnormal growth of cells. There are different types of brain tumors which can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Carmustine is used in the treatment of glioblastoma (a malignant tumor that occurs in the brain and spinal cord), brainstem glioma (a tumor that affects the brain stem of the CNS), medulloblastoma (a cancerous tumor that mostly occurs in children affecting the cerebellum (lower back part of the brain)), astrocytoma (growth of cells in astrocytes which support and connect nerve cells), ependymoma (a tumor that occurs outside the CNS or within the brain parenchyma, and metastatic brain tumors.
Hodgkin’s Disease: Hodgkin’s disease or lymphoma is a blood cancer of a certain type of cells called WBCs, specifically lymphocytes. Lymphocytes normally help control infection and maintain the body's normal immunity. However, in a cancerous state, there is an abnormal multiplication of these blood cells, causing many problems such as fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, itching, night sweats and lymph node swelling.
Multiple myeloma: It is a type of cancerous tumor that affects the plasma cells of the bone marrow. These cells collect in the bone marrow and divide uncontrollably, leading to kidney and bone damage. Symptoms include bone pain, loss of appetite, fever, and frequent infections. Generally, multiple myeloma cannot be cured, but the signs and symptoms can be reduced greatly or disappear after a period of time.
FAQs
Carmustine is used to treat Brain Tumors, Multiple Myeloma, Hodgkin’s Disease and Non-Hodgkin’s Disease.
Carmustine contains Carmustine, which belongs to the alkylating agents class. It works by inhibiting the DNA and RNA transcription that is essential for protein synthesis.
Carmustine may cause pulmonary toxicity, bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal toxicity, nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in some patients. Hence, inform your oncologist about your complete medical history, including current medication, to rule out any side effects/interactions.
Carmustine is safe if taken at the prescribed dose and duration as advised by your doctor. It is effectively used in the treatment of brain tumours, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's disease, and non-Hodgkin's disease. However, it may cause some side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, pale skin, dizziness, stomach upset, tiredness, loss of balance, and pain at the site of injection while taking it.
Carmustine is typically classified as an irritant among chemotherapy drugs. However, when given in high doses, it can have stronger effects and be considered a vesicant.
Yes, Carmustine works by preventing DNA and RNA transcription which is essential for protein synthesis.
The common side effects of Carmustine may include nausea, vomiting, headache, pale skin, dizziness, stomach upset, tiredness, loss of balance, and pain at the site of injection. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
