Temozolomide: Uses, indications and precautions when using

Temozolomide is used to treat certain types of brain cancer. This medication has many side effects, so it is important to use it exactly as prescribed by the doctor.

Temozolomide belongs to the group of alkylating drugs, used to treat certain types of brain cancer. The drug works by slowing or stopping cancer cells from growing.
Regarding the use of drugs, users need to carefully read the drug instructions or follow the doctor's advice. Temozolomide is given intravenously as directed by your doctor, usually over 90 minutes, under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Dosage and frequency of medication use is based on the patient's medical condition, height, weight and response to treatment. To get the most effective treatment, patients need to carefully follow the medication schedule prescribed by the doctor. In addition, during the course of medication, patients may also be prescribed other drugs such as antibiotics to prevent the risk of infection or side effects of the drug.

When using Temozolomide, patients may experience some side effects including:
Nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, loss of appetite, change in appetite, fatigue, dizziness, trouble sleeping, constipation, headache or pain, redness at the injection site. Nausea and vomiting can be serious. Your doctor may prescribe medication to prevent or reduce a patient's feelings of nausea and vomiting. To reduce this symptom, patients should eat small meals, do not eat before treatment and limit exercise. If the above side effects persist or become more severe, the patient should immediately notify the doctor; Patients taking the drug may experience temporary hair loss. After finishing treatment with Temozolomide, the hair will grow back to normal; Temozolomide can decrease bone marrow function, leading to low blood cell counts (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). This effect causes anemia, which reduces the body's ability to fight infections, and causes easy bruising or bleeding. Therefore, patients should immediately tell their doctor if they have symptoms such as unusual tiredness, pale skin, signs of infection (long-lasting sore throat, fever, chills), easy bruising or bleeding. ; Patients should tell their doctor right away if they experience serious side effects such as stomach or abdominal pain, jaundice, yellow eyes, dark urine; Take the patient to the emergency room immediately if there is a convulsion; Very rarely, serious allergic reactions to Temozolomide have been reported. However, if you have severe allergic symptoms such as itching or swelling in your face, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, hives, severe dizziness, etc., you should seek medical attention immediately.

Before using Temozolomide, patients should tell their doctor if they are allergic to the drug or dacarbazine or any other type of allergy; Before taking this medicine, you should tell your doctor about your medical history, especially liver or kidney problems or bleeding problems. You should also inform your doctor about any medications you are taking; Temozolomide can make you more susceptible to infection or make an existing infection worse. Therefore, after taking the drug, patients should avoid contact with people with contagious infections (flu, measles, chickenpox). If you have been exposed to a source of infection, you should tell your doctor; Do not get vaccinated without your doctor's consent. Patients should avoid contact with people recently vaccinated with live vaccines; To reduce the risk of injury and bleeding, patients should exercise caution when using sharp objects such as nail clippers, cutlery, and avoid heavy sports activities; This medicine may cause dizziness, especially when used with alcohol or stimulants. Therefore, when using Temozolomide, patients should not drive or operate machinery until they are fully awake and can safely perform such tasks. At the same time, in the process of taking the drug, the patient should limit alcohol and stimulants; Women and the elderly may be more sensitive to the side effects of Temozolomide, especially an increased risk of bruising/bleeding and infection; Men during and after using Temozolomide for 3 months should not donate sperm; If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should tell your doctor. Doctors do not recommend using Temozolomide while you are pregnant because it can harm an unborn baby. Patients are often asked to take a pregnancy test before starting the medication. Women taking the pill also need to learn about reliable forms of birth control while taking the pill and 6 months after stopping treatment. Men should use condoms when having sex while taking the drug and 3 months after stopping treatment. If you are pregnant, inform your doctor as soon as possible; There is no evidence that Temozolomide passes into breast milk. Therefore, breastfeeding is not recommended during and after discontinuation of the drug for at least 1 week.

Patients need to share with the doctor about the list of drugs they are taking. Also, do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine without your permission. Temozolomide may interact with nalidixic acid; If a patient uses an overdose of Temozolomide and has serious symptoms such as shortness of breath or fainting, the patient should be taken to the emergency room immediately; Before and while using Temozolomide, patients need to be tested, medical check such as brain scan, complete blood count test, liver function,...; Take Temozolomide exactly as directed by your doctor. If a dose is missed, the patient should notify the doctor immediately to schedule a new dose, do not double the dose. Patients should absolutely follow the doctor's instructions during the use of Temozolomide. If there is an unusual reaction after taking the drug, the patient should immediately notify the doctor.

Reference source: Webmd.com