Gliadel
Gliadel (carmustine) is an anticancer medication that’s implanted in the brain after surgery to treat adults with certain types of brain cancers called gliomas and glioblastomas. It’s in the form of a wafer and is placed in the area where the tumor was removed. Side effects include brain swelling, nausea, vomiting, constipation, slow wound healing, depression, and fever.
What is Gliadel (carmustine)?
What is Gliadel (carmustine) used for?
Brain cancers:
- Certain newly-diagnosed glioma, in addition with surgery and radiation
- Glioblastoma that keeps coming back, in addition with surgery
How Gliadel (carmustine) works
Gliadel (carmustine) is a wafer that’s placed in the brain after surgical removal of the brain tumor. The wafers then release the chemotherapy medication carmustine into the brain tissue.
Carmustine is an alkylating agent, which means that it interferes with the normal function of DNA. This prevents cells from dividing and growing, which leads them to die. Gliadel (carmustine) works by delivering carmustine directly into the brain, destroying cancer cells in that area.
Drug facts
Common questions about Gliadel (carmustine)
After your surgeon removes as much brain tumor as possible, Gliadel (carmustine) is placed into the brain during the surgery. Up to 8 wafers can be placed where the tumor was located. Over the next few days, the medication will be released to the local area to avoid chemotherapy going throughout the body. This will help limit some side effects and help target the tumor location in the brain.
In the clinical study, for those with newly-diagnosed glioma, survival was 2 months longer with Gliadel (carmustine) than with placebo.
Gliadel (carmustine) can cause some stomach-related side effects including nausea, vomiting, or constipation. It’s important to try and stay hydrated and avoid getting dehydrated. Other common side effects include fatigue and depression. It can also raise your risk of infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs) and fever. Let your provider know if you feel unwell, have fevers, or are having trouble with urination.
Gliadel (carmustine) can cause seizures, higher pressure around the brain, slow wound healing, and meningitis. Tell your provider right away if you have seizures, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, changes to your vision, stiff neck, or confusion.
Gliadel (carmustine) can cause harm to an unborn baby. Your provider might have you take a pregnancy test before your surgery. If you’re a female who is able to get pregnant, you should take birth control while taking Gliadel (carmustine) and for at least 6 months after the implantation. And if you’re a male with a partner who’s able to become pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the implantation. Let your provider know right away if you or your partner become pregnant while on this medication.
It isn’t recommended to breastfeed while taking Gliadel (carmustine). There are no studies to show how Gliadel (carmustine) affects breastfed children, but because of the possibility of serious side effects, don’t breastfeed for at least 7 days after implantation.
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Gliadel (carmustine) dosage
Typical dosage for Gliadel (carmustine)
