Drug interactions
Carmustine + Pentostatin
Severity: Contraindicated
Carmustine and Pentostatin: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Pentostatin combined with carmustine, etoposide and high-dose cyclophosphamide in transplant conditioning regimens led to fatal pulmonary toxicity with pulmonary edema and hypotension. Pentostatin should not be used in this setting.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carmustine and Pentostatin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Carmustine belongs to Oncology; Pentostatin belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Mechanism not established; additive pulmonary and cardiovascular toxicity is suspected.
What to do
Do not combine pentostatin with high-dose carmustine-based conditioning regimens. Use another regimen.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Carmustine and Pentostatin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Pentostatin
- Etoposide + Pentostatin Contraindicated
- Fludarabine + Pentostatin Contraindicated
- Cyclophosphamide + Pentostatin Major
- Deferiprone + Pentostatin Major
- Fingolimod + Pentostatin Major
- Nelarabine + Pentostatin Major
Other interactions of Carmustine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carmustine with Pentostatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Carmustine and Pentostatin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Pentostatin combined with carmustine, etoposide and high-dose cyclophosphamide in transplant conditioning regimens led to fatal pulmonary toxicity with pulmonary edema and hypotension. Pentostatin should not be used in this setting.
How serious is the interaction between Carmustine and Pentostatin?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not combine pentostatin with high-dose carmustine-based conditioning regimens. Use another regimen.
What other medicines interact with Pentostatin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pentostatin with, for example, Etoposide, Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide. The full list is on the Pentostatin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
