gleostine

What is Gleostine?

From the FDA label:Gleostine (lomustine) is an alkylating drug for oral administration. The chemical name for lomustine is 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea and the molecular formula is C 9 H 16 ClN 3 O 2 . The molecular weight is 233.71. Lomustine is a yellow powder, which is soluble in 10% ethanol (0.05 mg per mL) and in absolute alcohol (70 mg per mL). Lomustine is insoluble in water (<0.05 mg per mL). The chemical structure is: Gleostine is supplied as 10 mg, 40 mg, and 100 mg capsules and contains the following inactive ingredients: magnesium stearate NF and mannitol USP. The capsule shells are composed of gelatin and coloring pigments, depending on the strength: titanium dioxide, and/or yellow iron oxide, and/or Indigotine – FD&C Blue2. structure

How to use

Side effects

FDA Boxed Warning (the FDA’s most serious warning)

Warnings

Who should not take Gleostine

Overdose — what happens if you take too much

How long does Lomustine stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of lomustine is about 16 to 48 hours — but note this is the half-life of lomustine's metabolites, not the parent drug — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. Important scope: the Gleostine (lomustine) FDA label does NOT report an elimination half-life for the parent drug. Its Pharmacokinetics section (12.3, "Elimination") states only that "the serum half-life of lomustine metabolites ranges from 16 hours to 48 hours." Lomustine (a nitrosourea) is rapidly and extensively metabolized after oral dosing — the parent is essentially not quantified, and its active metabolites are the pharmacologically and clinically relevant species, which is why the label tracks metabolite half-life rather than parent. The label does not resolve this into distribution vs. terminal phases; the 16–48 h is the single range given. Specific populations: the label explicitly says the impact of age, sex, race, renal impairment, and hepatic impairment on lomustine pharmacokinetics is UNKNOWN — no adjustment values are provided. This figure is not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Gleostine (lomustine) FDA label — DailyMed, §12.3 Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

What does Gleostine treat?

Gleostine (Lomustine) may be used to treat brain neoplasms, colonic neoplasms, hodgkin disease, kidney neoplasms, lung neoplasms, non-hodgkin lymphoma, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Gleostine work?

Gleostine is a alkylating drug. Alkylating chemotherapy drugs attach chemical groups to a cell's DNA, forming cross-links that lock the two DNA strands together. This damage stops the cell from copying its DNA and dividing, which triggers it to die; because they are not limited to one phase of the cell cycle, they can act on cells whether or not they are actively dividing.

How is Gleostine rated?

pharmaranks gives Gleostine a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

Is there a coupon or discount for Gleostine?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Gleostine. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Gleostine?

Gleostine is marketed by Azurity. You can see Azurity's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Gleostine a brand-name or generic drug?

Gleostine is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Lomustine. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Lomustine are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Gleostine available over the counter?

No. Gleostine is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Gleostine come in?

Gleostine is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Gleostine?

Gleostine is classified as alkylating drug, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Gleostine FDA-registered?

Gleostine is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA017588. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Gleostine been recalled by the FDA?

Gleostine has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Gleostine safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Gleostine a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.

What are the side effects of Gleostine?

Gleostine's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: 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 ma… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.