Applies to carmustine: implantation implant. Other dosage forms:
- intravenous powder for solution
Serious side effects of Carmustine
Along with its needed effects, carmustine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking carmustine:
More common
- Blurred vision
- change in ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
- confusion
- fever
- headache
- nausea
- problems with movement, walking, or speech
- seizures
- trouble healing
- vomiting
Less common
- Change in personality
- drowsiness
- general feeling of illness
- severe headache
- stiff neck or back
- weakness
Other side effects of Carmustine
Some side effects of carmustine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Back pain
- bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- difficulty having a bowel movement
- discouragement
- feeling sad or empty
- frequent urge to urinate
- irritability
- lack of appetite
- lack or loss of strength
- loss of interest or pleasure
- lower back or side pain
- stomach pain
- trouble concentrating
- trouble sleeping
Less common
- Chest pain
For Healthcare Professionals
Applies to carmustine: implant device, intravenous powder for injection.
Respiratory
Common (1% to 10%): Pneumonia, pulmonary embolism
Frequency not reported: Pulmonary toxicity (IV formulation)[Ref]
Hematologic
Frequency not reported: Myelosuppression (IV formulation)[Ref]
Gastrointestinal
Very common (10% or more): Nausea, vomiting, constipation
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain
Postmarketing reports: Diarrhea, anorexia[Ref]
Hepatic
Postmarketing reports: Increased transaminase, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased bilirubin[Ref]
Renal
Postmarketing reports: Progressive azotemia, decrease in kidney size, renal failure[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Postmarketing reports: Tachycardia, chest pain, Veno-occlusive disease[Ref]
Local
Frequency not reported: Administration reactions (IV formulation)
Postmarketing reports: Burning sensation[Ref]
Other
Very common (10% or more): Asthenia, fever
Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain
Frequency not reported: Wafer migration (wafer formulation)[Ref]
Ocular
Frequency not reported: Ocular toxicity (IV formulation)
Postmarketing reports: Conjunctival edema, conjunctival hemorrhage, blurred vision, loss of depth perception[Ref]
Oncologic
Postmarketing reports: Acute leukemia, bone marrow dysplasia[Ref]
Immunologic
Very common (10% or more): Impaired neurosurgical wound healing (wafer formulation) (16%)
Common (1% to 10%): Meningitis (wafer formulation)
Postmarketing reports: Opportunistic infection (sometimes fatal)
Musculoskeletal
Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
Metabolic
Postmarketing reports: Diabetes mellitus
Psychiatric
Very common (10% or more): Confusion, depression
Common (1% to 10%): Anxiety, thinking abnormal, hallucinations, insomnia, personality disorder
Genitourinary
Very common (10% or more): Urinary tract infection
Nervous system
(wafer formulation) (23%), aphasia, somnolence, speech disorder
Common (1% to 10%): Intracranial hypertension (wafer formulation), brain abscess (wafer formulation), brain cyst (wafer formulation), hydrocephalus (wafer formulation), cerebral edema (wafer formulation), amnesia, facial paralysis, ataxia, hypesthesia, paresthesia, abnormal gait, dizziness, tremor, coma, hypokinesia
Postmarketing reports: Headache, encephalopathy
Dermatologic
Very common (10% or more): Rash
Postmarketing reports: Hyperpigmentation, swelling, erythema, skin necrosis, alopecia, allergic reaction
