How well does Gliadel (carmustine) work to treat people with brain cancer?

In the [clinical study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16482400/), for those with newly-diagnosed glioma, survival was 2 months longer with Gliadel (carmustine) than with [placebo](https://www.goodrx.com/drugs/medication-basics/pharmacy-medical-glossary#p).

What are the risks of using Gliadel (carmustine)?

Gliadel (carmustine) can cause seizures, [higher pressure around the brain](https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/neurological/what-is-a-pseudotumor), slow wound healing, and [meningitis](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/meningitis/meningitis-causes-symptoms-treatment-prevention). Tell your provider right away if you have seizures, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, changes to your vision, stiff neck, or confusion.

Is Gliadel (carmustine) safe in pregnancy?

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](https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/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.

Is Gliadel (carmustine) safe while breastfeeding?

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.

Gliadel

carmustine

Used for Brain Tumor

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.

Reviewed by:

Belinda Li, PharmD, BCOP

Daisy Chau, PharmD

Last reviewed on November 15, 2023

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.

Are you looking for information on Carmustine (BICNU) injection instead?

Drug facts

Common Brands	Gliadel
Drug Class	Alkylating agent
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	No lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Gliadel

Drug Class

Alkylating agent

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

No lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Common questions about Gliadel

After your surgeon removes as much brain tumor as possible, Gliadel 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 than with placebo.

Gliadel 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 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 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 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. There are no studies to show how Gliadel affects breastfed children, but because of the possibility of serious side effects, don’t breastfeed for at least 7 days after implantation.

Gliadel (carmustine) dosage

Typical dosage for Gliadel (carmustine)

What are alternatives to Gliadel (carmustine)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Gliadel (carmustine). Compare a few possible alternatives below.

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

View prices

Lomustine (Gleostine)

Used for:

Brain tumors; after surgery, radiation, or both
Hodgkin lymphoma, after previous treatment no longer works well

$36.85Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

Temozolomide (Temodar)

Used for:

Newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM), first with radiation and then by itself as maintenance therapy
Newly-diagnosed or refractory anaplastic astrocytoma (grade 3 astrocytoma)

$22.66Lowest GoodRx priceView prices

References

American Brain Tumor Association. (2018). Glioma.

American Brain Tumor Association. (2022). Glioblastoma (GBM).

Arbor Pharmaceuticals. (2018). Gliadel- carmustine wafer [package insert]. DailyMed.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

What is Gliadel (carmustine)?

What is Gliadel (carmustine) used for?

How Gliadel (carmustine) works

Are you looking for information on Carmustine (BICNU) injection instead?

Drug facts

Common questions about Gliadel

How will Gliadel be given to me?

How well does Gliadel work to treat people with brain cancer?

What are possible side effects of using Gliadel?

What are the risks of using Gliadel?

Is Gliadel safe in pregnancy?

Is Gliadel safe while breastfeeding?

Gliadel (carmustine) dosage

Typical dosage for Gliadel (carmustine)

What are alternatives to Gliadel (carmustine)?

References

View All References (3)

Common questions about Gliadel

How will Gliadel be given to me?

How well does Gliadel work to treat people with brain cancer?

What are possible side effects of using Gliadel?

What are the risks of using Gliadel?

Is Gliadel safe in pregnancy?

Is Gliadel safe while breastfeeding?