lomustine Health Article

Generic name(s):

lomustine

Brand name(s):

Ceenu

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

Lomustine should only be administered under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider experienced in the use of cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Serious side effects have been reported with the use of lomustine including: allergic reactions (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased bone marrow function and blood problems (extreme fatigue; easy bruising or bleeding; black, bloody or tarry stools; fever or chills; or signs of infection such as fever; chills, or sore throat); lung problems (shortness of breath, dry cough); swelling of the feet or lower legs; mental confusion; liver problems (yellowing of the skin or eyes); and others. Talk to your doctor about the possible side effects from treatment with lomustine.

In some cases, second cancers have been reported to occur during and following treatment with lomustine. Also, lomustine has been associated with the lung disorder pulmonary fibrosis. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medication.

What is lomustine?

Lomustine is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication. Lomustine interferes with the growth of cancer cells and slows their growth and spread in the body.

Lomustine is used to treat cancerous brain tumors and the blood cancer Hodgkin's disease.

Lomustine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lomustine?

Before taking lomustine, tell your doctor if you have

• had recent vaccinations;

• liver disease;

• have bone marrow problems;

• have a history of lung or breathing problems; or

• kidney disease.

You may not be able to take lomustine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Lomustine is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that lomustine is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Lomustine may also affect egg production in women and sperm production in men. Do not take lomustine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Contraceptive measures are recommended during treatment with lomustine. It is not known whether lomustine passes into breast milk. Do not take lomustine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.

How should I take lomustine?

Take lomustine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain them to you.

Take each oral dose with a large glass of water. Taking lomustine on an empty stomach may reduce nausea and vomiting. Check with your doctor if vomiting occurs shortly after taking a dose of lomustine. Your doctor may want you to take another dose, but do not do this without checking with your doctor first. Nausea and vomiting usually last less than 24 hours following a dose of lomustine, however decreased appetite may last for several days.

Lomustine is usually given as a single dose which may be repeated in six or more weeks following recovery of the blood. To get the correct dose, you may be given a combination of two or more different types and colors of capsules.

Your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with lomustine to monitor progress and side effects.

Store lomustine tablets at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Keep this product out of the reach of children.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of lomustine.