Your bone marrow’s ability to produce blood cells may suffer significantly if you take lomustine. A reduction in blood cell count in your body may result in certain symptoms and raise your risk of bleeding or serious infection. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Unusual bleeding or bruising, red or black, tarry stools, bloody vomit, or vomiting blood or brown material that resembles coffee grounds are all indications of infection. Other symptoms include fever, sore throat, persistent cough, and congestion.

Lomustine overdose and overuse can result in significant, potentially fatal issues. Lomustine should only be taken once every six weeks.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Before, during, and after your treatment, your doctor will conduct laboratory tests to monitor your body’s response to lomustine and determine whether this medicine has an impact on your blood cells, liver, kidneys, or lungs.

Some kinds of brain cancers are treated with lomustine. In addition, hodgkin’s lymphoma (Hodgkin’s disease) that has not improved or deteriorated following treatment with other drugs is treated with lomustine in combination with other drugs. Alkylating agents, which include lomustine, are a group of drugs. It operates by reducing or preventing the growth of cancer cells within your body.

Lomustine is available as a capsule to be swallowed. It is typically taken on an empty stomach once every six weeks. Two or more distinct types and colours of capsules could be included in your entire dose. Only one dose’s worth of capsules will be provided. Take each capsule that was provided to you in the prescription container one at a time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Administer lomustine as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

To prevent skin contact with the capsules, you should always handle them while wearing rubber or latex gloves. If the capsule’s contents come in contact with your skin, immediately wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

The capsules should be swallowed whole; do not break, chew, or crush them.

Get a copy of the patient’s information from the manufacturer from your pharmacist or physician.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking lomustine,

• If you have any allergies, including to lomustine, other drugs, or any of the substances in lomustine capsules, notify your doctor right away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use.
• You should be aware that lomustine may reduce both male and female fertility. Yet, you shouldn’t presumptively believe that neither you nor your partner could conceive. If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Use birth control to avoid getting pregnant while receiving lomustine and for at least two weeks following your last dose, if you’re a female. If you’re a man, you should use birth control along with your female partner during your lomustine therapy and for four months following your last dose. Call your doctor if you or your partner becomes pregnant while taking lomustine. The foetus may suffer from lomustine.
• If you are currently breastfeeding or plan to do so, let your doctor know. While taking lomustine and for two weeks following your last dose, you shouldn’t breastfeed.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If you take your dose on a day other than the one specified by your doctor, let them know.

Side effects from lomustine are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Mouth- and throat-related sores
• Unexpected fatigue or weakened state
• Light skin
• Fainting
• Hair fall
• Unstable walking
• Muddled speech

Some adverse effects may be severe. Stop taking lomustine, call your doctor right away, or seek emergency medical attention if you have any of these signs or those in the IMPORTANT CAUTION section:

• Having trouble breathing
• Breathing difficulty
• Wet cough
• Chest ache
• Wheezing
• Reduction in urination
• Swelling of the lower legs, feet, ankles, arms, or face
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Confusion
• Sudden alteration or vision loss

Lomustine may make you more likely to get other malignancies. The dangers of using lomustine should be discussed with your doctor.

Further negative effects of lomustine may occur. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Tarry, black stools
• Red faeces
• Abnormal bleeding or bruising
• Unusual weakness or fatigue
• Fever, cough, sore throat, or other infection-related symptoms
• Dizziness
• Breathing difficulty
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• In the mouth and throat sores

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.