TEMOZOLOMIDE
(TEM oh ZOE loe mide) Brand: Temodar
What is the most significant information I must know about temozolomide?
• You must not take this medicine if you are allergic to temozolomide or to other cancer medicine called dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome). Till taking temozolomide, speak your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease.
• Do not use temozolomide if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby.
• Do not open the temozolomide capsule, or use a pill that has been accidentally broken. The medication from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if you accidentally inhale it, or if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of a broken tablet or capsule.
• Temozolomide is often given together with radiation treatment, and then continued for different weeks or months after radiation treatment ends. There may be periods of time when you will take temozolomide for only a little days in a row and then wait other 2 to 4 weeks till you start a new treatment cycle and take it again. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. The size, color, and number of temozolomide capsules you take may be various from time to time as your doctor adjusts your doze. Be certain you know the correct number of capsules to take and on which days to take them. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Taking temozolomide may magnify your risk of developing determined types of bone marrow cancer. Conversation with your doctor about your individual risk.
What is temozolomide?
• Temozolomide interferes with the development of cancer cells, slowing their growth and spread in the body.
• Temozolomide is used together with radiation therapy to treat determined types of brain tumor in adults.
• Temozolomide is sometimes given after another cancer medications have been tried without successful treatment of the tumor.
• Temozolomide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking temozolomide?
• You must not take this medicine if you are allergic to temozolomide or to other cancer medicine called dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome).
• To create certain you can safely take temozolomide, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· liver malady; or
· kidney disease.
• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use temozolomide if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn child. Use effective birth control, and speak your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether temozolomide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Taking temozolomide may magnify your risk of developing determined types of bone marrow cancer. Conversation with your doctor about your individual risk.
• Women and older adults may be more likely to have bone marrow suppression (a weakened immune system) while taking temozolomide. This can lead to an heighten risk of infection or illness.
How must I take temozolomide?
• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
• Take temozolomide on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour till or 2 hours after a meal.
• Swallow the temozolomide capsule intact, with a full glass of water.
• If you vomit shortly after taking temozolomide, do not take other capsule before it is time for your following regularly scheduled dose.
• Do not open the temozolomide capsule, or use a pill that has been accidentally broken. The medication from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if you accidentally inhale it, or if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of a broken tablet or capsule.
• You may be given another medications to prevent infection while you are taking temozolomide. Use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be certain to read the medicine manual or patient instructions provided with every of your medications. Do not change your doses or medicine schedule without advice from your doctor.
• Temozolomide can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can create it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being near others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.
• Temozolomide is often given together with radiation treatment, and then continued for different weeks or months after radiation treatment ends. There may be periods of time when you will take temozolomide for only a little days in a row and then wait other 2 to 4 weeks till you start a new treatment cycle and take it again. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. The size, color, and number of temozolomide capsules you take may be various from time to time as your doctor adjusts your doze. Be certain you know the correct number of capsules to take and on which days to take them. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Taking temozolomide for more than 5 days in a row can reason life-threatening overdose.
• Overdose symptoms may include fever, pale skin, heighten thirst, dry skin, light bruising or bleeding, confusion, weakness, and urinating smaller than normal or not at all.
What must I avoid while taking temozolomide?
• Avoid being around people who are sick or have infections. Speak your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
• Avoid activities that may magnify your risk of bleeding or injury. Use extra care to prevent bleeding while shaving or brushing your teeth.
• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.
• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.
What are the possible side effects of temozolomide?
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
· seizure (convulsions);
· numbness or tingling on one side of your body;
· signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, light bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, unusual weakness;
· dry cough, feeling short of breath, weight loss, night sweats;
· pain or burning when you urinate;
· white patches or sores internal your mouth or on your lips; or
· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· hair loss;
· weary feeling;
· diarrhea, constipation;
· mild skin rash;
· dizziness, blurred vision;
· sleep problems (insomnia); or
· unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What another drugs will affect temozolomide?
• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:
· phenytoin;
· steroids; or
· a sulfa drug such as Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim, or SMX-TMP.
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with temozolomide. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about temozolomide.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
Disclaim: Each 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 external 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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help 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.