Carmustine Implant Wafer

Generic Name: Carmustine in Polifeprosan Intracranial Implant Wafer (kar-MUS-teen/poh-LIF-eh-pro-sin)
Brand Name: Gliadel

Carmustine Implant Wafer is used for:

Treating certain types of brain cancer along with surgery and radiation therapy.

Carmustine Implant Wafer is an antineoplastic. It works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells.

Do NOT use Carmustine Implant Wafer if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Carmustine Implant Wafer

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Carmustine Implant Wafer:

Some medical conditions may interact with Carmustine Implant Wafer. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are receiving other cancer chemotherapy or undergoing radiation therapy

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Carmustine Implant Wafer. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Cimetidine because the side effects of Carmustine Implant Wafer may be increased
• Digoxin or hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) because effectiveness may be decreased by Carmustine Implant Wafer

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Carmustine Implant Wafer may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Carmustine Implant Wafer:

Use Carmustine Implant Wafer as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• After the tumor is surgically removed from the brain, Carmustine Implant Wafer is implanted by the surgeon into the cavity left by the tumor. The number of wafers implanted depends on your medical condition.
• If you miss a dose of Carmustine Implant Wafer, contact your doctor right away.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Carmustine Implant Wafer.

Important safety information:

• Carmustine Implant Wafer may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Carmustine Implant Wafer. Using Carmustine Implant Wafer alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Wafers should only be handled by personnel wearing surgical gloves because exposure to carmustine can cause severe burning and hyperpigmentation of the skin.
• Use Carmustine Implant Wafer with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Carmustine Implant Wafer has been shown to cause harm to the fetus. Avoid becoming pregnant while taking Carmustine Implant Wafer. If you think you may be pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Carmustine Implant Wafer during pregnancy. It is unknown if Carmustine Implant Wafer is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Carmustine Implant Wafer.

Possible side effects of Carmustine Implant Wafer:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Anxiety; constipation; diarrhea; drowsiness; hair loss; headache; nausea; vomiting; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; confusion; dizziness; fainting; fever; memory trouble or loss of memory; mental or mood changes; muscle weakness; pain; seizures; severe stomach pain; stiff neck; swelling or infection of the surgical site; tremor; trouble sleeping; trouble speaking; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual numbness or tingling; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Carmustine Implant Wafer:

Carmustine Implant Wafer is usually handled and stored by a health care provider.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Carmustine Implant Wafer, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Carmustine Implant Wafer is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Carmustine Implant Wafer. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

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