What is the most important information I should know about temozolomide?
Call your doctor if you have fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.
What is temozolomide?
Temozolomide is used together with radiation therapy to treat certain types of brain tumor in adults.
Temozolomide is usually given after other treatments have failed.
Temozolomide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking temozolomide?
You should not use temozolomide if you are allergic to it, or to dacarbazine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease; or
- kidney disease.
Using temozolomide may increase your risk of developing certain types of bone marrow cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk.
You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.
Temozolomide can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine.
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If you are a woman, do not use temozolomide if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 6 months after your last dose.
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If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 3 months after your last dose.
- Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using temozolomide.
This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men. Talk to your doctor about your own risk.
Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 1 week after your last dose.
How should I take temozolomide?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Temozolomide is given in a 28-day treatment cycle, and you may only need to take the medicine during the first few days of each cycle.
If you are also receiving radiation treatment, you may need to take temozolomide for 6 to 7 weeks in a row during your first treatment cycle. Then you may be switched to a 28-day maintenance treatment cycle.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. The size, color, and number of temozolomide capsules you take may sometimes be different from earlier treatment cycles. Be sure you know the correct number of capsules to take and on which days to take them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Temozolomide doses are based on body surface area (height and weight). Your dose needs may change if you gain or lose weight or if you are still growing.
Take all of your capsules for the day (one entire daily dose) at the same time on each dosing day of a treatment cycle. Swallow the capsules whole with a full glass of water.
Take this medicine at the same time each day.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
You may take temozolomide with or without food, but take it the same way each time.
Your doctor will determine how long to treat you with temozolomide. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
You may need to take temozolomide at bedtime or on an empty stomach if the medicine upsets your stomach.
If you vomit shortly after taking the medicine, do not take another capsule until your next regularly scheduled dose.
Do not use an open capsule. The medicine from a broken pill can be dangerous if it gets in your mouth, eyes, or nose, or on your skin. If this happens, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your pharmacist how to safely dispose of a broken pill.
You may be given medication to prevent nausea or other side effects while you are receiving temozolomide.
Temozolomide can increase your risk of bleeding or infection. You will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.
Your liver function may also need to be checked during treatment and for 2 to 4 weeks after you stop using this medicine.
Store temozolomide at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of temozolomide.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking temozolomide?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Men should not donate semen while using temozolomide and for at least 90 days after the last dose.
Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.
What are the possible side effects of temozolomide?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a seizure (convulsions);
- sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough;
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low blood cell counts --fever, chills, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or
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liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
- skin rash;
- loss of movement on one side of the body;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- headache, feeling tired, memory problems;
- dizziness, weakness, loss of coordination;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- seizure;
- low white blood cell counts (fever, flu symptoms); or
- hair loss.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect temozolomide?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- drugs that weaken the immune system such as cancer medicine, steroids, and medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection; or
- valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor).
This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect temozolomide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about temozolomide.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 13.01. Revision date: 8/31/2020.
