pharmacopeia
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Boxed warning

DELAYED MYELOSUPPRESSION AND RISK OF OVERDOSAGE DELAYED MYELOSUPPRESSION Gleostine causes myelosuppression including fatal myelosuppression. Myelosuppression is delayed, dose-related, and cumulative; occurring 4 to 6 weeks after drug administration and persisting for 1 to 2 weeks. Thrombocytopenia is generally more severe than leukopenia. Cumulative myelosuppression from Gleostine is manifested by greater severity and longer duration of cytopenias. Monitor blood counts for at least 6 weeks after each dose. Do not give Gleostine more frequently than every 6 weeks [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 , 2.3 )] . RISK OF OVERDOSAGE PRESCRIBE, DISPENSE, AND ADMINISTER ONLY ENOUGH CAPSULES FOR ONE DOSE. Fatal toxicity occurs with overdosage of Gleostine. Both physician and pharmacist should emphasize to the patient that only one dose of Gleostine is taken every 6 weeks [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ), Overdosage ( 10 )] . WARNING: DELAYED MYELOSUPPRESSION and RISK OF OVERDOSAGE See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Delayed Myelosuppression Gleostine causes myelosuppression including fatal myelosuppression. Myelosuppression is delayed, dose-related, and cumulative. Thrombocytopenia is generally more severe than leukopenia.

Mechanism of action

Sourced from openFDA

Lomustine alkylates DNA and RNA. As with other nitrosoureas, it may also inhibit several key enzymatic processes by carbamoylation of amino acids in proteins.

Indications

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  • Gleostine is an alkylating drug indicated for the treatment of patients with: Brain tumors, primary and metastatic, following appropriate surgical and/or radiotherapeutic procedures. ( 1 ) Hodgkin's lymphoma in combination with other chemotherapies, following disease progression with initial chemotherapy.ICD-10: C85.90

Contraindications

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  • None.contraindicated

Dosage & administration

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Recommended dose in adult and pediatric patients is 130 mg/m 2 orally every 6 weeks. ( 2.1 ) Round dose to nearest 10 mg. Give as a single oral dose and do not repeat for at least 6 weeks. 2.1 Important Prescribing and Dispensing Information PRESCRIBE ONLY ONE DOSE FOR EACH TREATMENT CYCLE. DO NOT DISPENSE ENTIRE CONTAINER. Dispense only a sufficient number of capsules for one dose. Confirm the total dose prescribed by the physician and the appropriate combination of capsule strengths. Dispense only the appropriate number of Gleostine capsules required for the administration of a single dose. The prescribed dose may consist of two or more different strengths and colors of capsules. Instruct patients that Gleostine is taken as a single oral dose and will not be repeated for at least 6 weeks. Taking more than the recommended dose causes toxicities, including fatal outcomes [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) and Overdosage ( 10 )] . Gleostine is a cytotoxic drug. Follow applicable special handling and disposal procedures. 1 To minimize the risk of dermal exposure, always wear impervious gloves when handling bottles containing Gleostine capsules. Do not break Gleostine capsules; avoid exposure to broken capsules. If dermal contact occurs, wash areas of skin contact immediately and thoroughly. 2.2 Recommended Dose The recommended dose of Gleostine in adult and pediatric patients is 130 mg/m 2 taken as a single oral dose every 6 weeks. Round doses to the nearest 10 mg. Give as a single oral dose and do not repeat for at least 6 weeks.

Warnings & precautions

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Pulmonary toxicity : Pulmonary infiltrates and/or fibrosis occurs with Gleostine. Perform pulmonary function tests prior to treatment and repeat frequently. Permanently discontinue Gleostine in patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. ( 5.3 ) Secondary malignancies : Acute leukemia and myelodysplasia can occur with long-term use. ( 5.4 ) Hepatotoxicity : Increased levels of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin can occur with Gleostine. Monitor liver function. ( 5.5 ) Nephrotoxicity : Can cause renal failure. Monitor renal function. ( 5.6 ) Embryo-fetal toxicity : Can cause fetal harm. Advise males and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception. ( 5.7 , 8.1 , 8.3 ) 5.1 Delayed Myelosuppression Gleostine causes myelosuppression that can result in fatal infections and bleeding. Myelosuppression from Gleostine is delayed, dose-related, and cumulative. It usually occurs 4 to 6 weeks after drug administration and persists for 1 to 2 weeks. Thrombocytopenia is generally more severe than leukopenia. Cumulative myelosuppression from Gleostine is manifested by greater severity and longer duration of cytopenias. Monitor blood counts for at least 6 weeks after each dose. Do not give Gleostine more frequently than every 6 weeks. Adjust dose based on nadir blood counts from prior dose [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )]. 5.2 Risk of Overdosage Fatal toxicity occurs with overdosage of Gleostine. Dispensing or administering more than one dose can lead to fatal toxicity. Prescribe only one dose at a time.

Adverse reactions

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The following serious adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the labeling: Delayed myelosuppression [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Risks of overdosage [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Pulmonary toxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Secondary malignancies [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Nephrotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] The following adverse reactions associated with the use of Gleostine were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because these reactions were reported from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to estimate their frequency, reliability, or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, and stomatitis Ocular disorders: optic atrophy, visual disturbances, and blindness Neurologic disorders: disorientation, lethargy, ataxia, and dysarthria Other: alopecia Common adverse reactions include delayed myelosupression, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, and alopecia. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-461-7449 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Use in specific populations

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Lactation: Do not breastfeed. ( 8.2 ) 8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Based on animal data and its mechanism of action, Gleostine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.1 )] . There are no available data on Gleostine exposure in pregnant women. Lomustine was teratogenic in rats and embryotoxic in rabbits at total dose levels approximately two to four times the total human dose of 130 mg/m 2 over 6 weeks (0.18 to 0.27 times the single human dose of 130 mg/m 2 ) based on BSA [see Data] . Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Data Animal Data Lomustine was administered by intraperitoneal injection daily to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis at dose levels of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/kg. Resorption rates and post-implantation loss occurred at doses greater than or equal to 4 mg/kg (approximately 0.18 times the clinical dose of 130 mg/m 2 based on BSA or approximately twice the total clinical dose of lomustine over 6 weeks).

Pharmacokinetics

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Metabolism
Distribution Lomustine crosses the blood-brain barrier. Elimination The serum half-life of lomustine metabolites ranges from 16 hours to 48 hours.

Overdosage

Sourced from openFDA

Overdosage with Gleostine has occurred, including fatal cases [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. Overdosage causes severe myelosuppression, as well as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, dizziness, abnormal hepatic function, cough, and shortness of breath. No antidotes exist for Gleostine overdosage.

Approval history

Sourced from openFDA
  • Aug 4, 1976NDANDA017588Azurity
  • Oct 27, 2025ANDAANDA219265Carnegie

FAERS reports

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Reference statistics only. FAERS reports are voluntarily submitted and are not incidence rates, safety signals, or causal evidence. Counts reflect reporting volume — how often a reaction was reported, not how often it occurs. For decision-grade use, consult openFDA and the FAERS Public Dashboard directly.
2,500 total reports matchedLatest report Share = reports listing the reaction ÷ total matched reports. Rows can sum to >100% because a single report often lists multiple reactions.
  1. 1Death25710%
  2. 2Off Label Use2399.6%
  3. 3Nausea2269.0%
  4. 4Fatigue2078.3%
  5. 5Thrombocytopenia1787.1%
  6. 6Disease Progression1395.6%
  7. 7Neutropenia1305.2%
  8. 8Drug Ineffective1265.0%
  9. 9Platelet Count Decreased1114.4%
  10. 10Vomiting1074.3%
  11. 11Seizure843.4%
  12. 12Headache833.3%
  13. 13Product Use In Unapproved Indication743.0%
  14. 14Constipation722.9%
  15. 15Malignant Neoplasm Progression692.8%

Literature

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Recent PubMed references pinned to Lomustine as a MeSH major topic. Citations link to pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Clinical trials

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The 10 most recently updated of 146 ClinicalTrials.gov registrations naming Lomustine as an intervention. Registration is not evidence of efficacy or safety — reference crosswalk only.

Frequently asked questions

How does Lomustine work?
Lomustine alkylates DNA and RNA. As with other nitrosoureas, it may also inhibit several key enzymatic processes by carbamoylation of amino acids in proteins.
What is Lomustine used for?
According to FDA labeling, Lomustine carries indications including: Gleostine is an alkylating drug indicated for the treatment of patients with: Brain tumors, primary and metastatic, following appropriate surgical and/or radiotherapeutic procedures. ( 1 ) Hodgkin's lymphoma in combination with other chemotherapies, following disease progression with initial chemotherapy.. This is a reference summary of labeled uses, not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
What class of drug is Lomustine?
Lomustine is classified as Nitrosoureas, Alkylating Drug, Alkylating Activity, Decreased DNA Integrity, Decreased DNA Replication, Decreased Transcription to RNA.
What are the brand names for Lomustine?
Lomustine is marketed under brand names including Gleostine.
What are the contraindications for Lomustine?
Lomustine labeling lists contraindications including: None.. Always consult the full prescribing information and a clinician.
Note. Data for lomustine is illustrative MVP content compiled from public sources. pharmacopeia is for educational and informational use only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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