Lomustine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 18, 2024.

Applies to lomustine: oral capsule.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, confusion, shortness of breath, swelling of the feet or lower legs, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellow eyes or skin.

While you are being treated with lomustine, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccinations) without your doctor's approval. Lomustine may lower your body's resistance and there is a chance you might get the infection the immunization is meant to prevent. In addition, other persons living in your household should not take oral polio vaccine since there is a chance they could pass the polio virus on to you. Also, avoid persons who have recently taken oral polio vaccine. Do not get close to them, and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you cannot take these precautions, you should consider wearing a protective face mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Lomustine can temporarily lower the number of white blood cells in your blood, increasing the chance of getting an infection. It can also lower the number of platelets, which are necessary for proper blood clotting. If this occurs, there are certain precautions you can take, especially when your blood count is low, to reduce the risk of infection or bleeding:

• If you can, avoid people with infections. Check with your doctor right away if you think you are getting an infection or if you get a fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.
• Check with your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising; black, tarry stools; blood in the urine or stools; or pinpoint red spots on your skin.
• Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
• Do not touch your eyes or the inside of your nose unless you have just washed your hands and have not touched anything else in the meantime.
• Be careful not to cut yourself when you are using sharp objects such as a safety razor or fingernail or toenail cutters.
• Avoid contact sports or other situations where bruising or injury could occur.

Along with their needed effects, medicines like lomustine can sometimes cause unwanted effects such as blood problems, loss of hair, and other side effects; these are described below. Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not occur until months or years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Serious side effects of lomustine

Along with its needed effects, lomustine 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking lomustine:

Other side effects of lomustine

Some side effects of lomustine 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to lomustine: oral capsule.

Hematologic adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased white blood counts (up to 65%), leukopenia
• Frequency not reported: Myelosuppression/bone marrow suppression, thrombocytopenia, anemia, pancytopenia decreased hematocrit, bone marrow failure^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea and vomiting (45% to 100%)
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Diarrhea
• Frequency not reported: Stomatitis, anorexia, loss of appetite^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Cholestatic jaundice
• Frequency not reported: Elevations in transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Progressive azotemia, decreased kidney size, renal failure, kidney damage, elevated BUN levels, renal atrophy, renal injury^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Rare (less than 0.1%): Pulmonary toxicity, interstitial pneumonia, lung fibrosis
• Frequency not reported: Lung infiltration^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: Acute leukemia, bone marrow dysplasia, myelodysplastic syndrome^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Apathy, disorientation, confusion, stuttering
• Frequency not reported: Lethargy, ataxia, dysarthria, abnormal coordination^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Optic atrophy, visual disturbances (e.g., blindness)^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Alopecia^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Lomustine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer