by Dr. Manura Nanayakkara

Created on: October 11, 2010

Temodar® is an anti-cancer drug classified as an alkylating agent. Its generic name is Temozolomide. It is an oral medication used to treat various brain cancers including anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. In addition some physicians may use this drug for other purposes.

How Temodar® works?

Unlike normal cells, cancer cells continuously grow or multiply and it is not controlled by the normal regulating mechanisms of the body.

Temodar acts by destroying DNA and RNA when the cell is dividing. So it kills the dividing cells. By killing dividing cells it destroys the more cancer cells than normal cells. Destruction of cancer cells cure the cancer but the destruction of normal cells causes side effects.

What are the common and immediate side effects?

It is important to note that most people will not get all the side effects. So do not discontinue the medication without consulting your doctor. In addition most of the side effects will go away once the treatment is over.

Nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache and tiredness (fatigue) are the commonest side effects. In addition some patients can get low white blood cell counts. This can put these patients at increased risk of infection, anemia and bleeding. So white blood cell count monitoring is essential during the therapy.

What are the delayed effects?

Swelling of the body can occur in certain patients. In addition neurotoxic features such as dizziness, problems in balance and coordination, weakness in the one side of body, fits and excessive sleepiness can occur.

Certain patients may get diarrhea and weakness. In addition, some patients may get skin rash, itchiness of the body.

What are the dangerous side effects of this drug?

If you get shortness of breath, wheezing, wide spread hives, pallor, chest tightness and difficulty in breathing then call your health care provider immediately.

Contact your doctor if you get high fever with chills and rigors or any sign of infection such as sore throat, cough, severe vomiting and severe diarrhea.

In addition call your doctor if you get uncontrolled bleeding, abnormal bruising, and blood in urine, bloody vomiting and black and tarry stools.

Call your doctor if you are unable to eat or drink for more than 12 hours or having signs of dehydration such as thirst, dry mouth and decreased urine output.

What you should know before taking Temodar?

Tell your complete medical history to your doctor including all the medications you are taking as well as all the herbal and recreational drugs you take. In addition, inform your doctor if you pregnant or breast feeding. Other than that do not take live vaccines without informing your doctor.

Sources

BNF

  

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