Bicnu

What Is BiCNU?

BiCNU (carmustine) is a cancer (antineoplastic) medication used to treat brain tumors, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and is sometimes given with other cancer medications.

What Are Side Effects of BiCNU?

Common side effects of BiCNU include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• headache,
• flushing, or
• injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness, or darkened skin color).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of BiCNU including:

• dark urine,
• yellowing eyes or skin,
• severe stomach or abdominal pain,
• changes in the amount of urine,
• vision changes,
• fast heartbeat, or
• dizziness.

Dosage for BiCNU

The recommended dose of BiCNU as a single agent in previously untreated patients is 150 to 200 mg/m intravenously every 6 weeks. This may be given as a single dose or divided into daily injections such as 75 to 100 mg/m2 on 2 successive days.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with BiCNU?

BiCNU may interact with cimetidine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

BiCNU During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

BiCNU is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. Consult your doctor to discuss using at least 2 forms of birth control (e.g., condoms, birth control pills) while using this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding while using this drug is not recommended.

Additional Information

Our BiCNU (carmustine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You may have an infusion reaction during the injection or within 2 hours afterward. This may include skin redness, eye redness and severe warmth or tingling under your skin.

Some side effects may not occur many weeks or even years after you receive carmustine.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• a seizure;
• unexplained weight loss;
• little or no urination; or
• pain, burning, swelling, or skin changes where the injection was given;
• slow healing of your incision after carmustine implant placement;
• lung problems--a dry cough or hack, shortness of breath (especially with exercise), rapid but shallow breathing, tiredness, body aches, clubbing (widening and rounding) of your fingertips or toes;
• increased pressure inside your skull--sudden vision problems, severe headache, vomiting, dizziness; or
• signs of meningitis--fever, neck stiffness, increased sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, confusion, drowsiness.

Common side effects may include:

• bleeding, bruising;
• tiredness;
• nausea, vomiting; or
• breathing problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Bicnu (Carmustine)