Dear tyke,
Thank you for your question on Temodar (generic name temozolomide),
typically used in the treatment of refractory anaplastic astrocytoma
(a type of brain tumor). As one individual mentioned, one cite that
discusses Temodar is here (from the NIH):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/500076.html
Side effects mentioned here include the following:
"Along with its needed effects, temozolomide may cause some unwanted
effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do
occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following
side effects occur
? Less common or rare
? Amnesia; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools;
convulsions (seizures); cough or hoarseness; fever or chills;
infection; lower back or side pain; muscle weakness or paralysis
on one or both sides of the body; painful or difficult urination;
pinpoint red spots on skin; swelling of feet or lower legs;
unusual bleeding or bruising
? Incidence not determined--?Observed during clinical practice;
estimates of frequency cannot be determined
? Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin; chest pain ; cough;
difficulty swallowing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fever or
chills; hives; itching; joint or muscle pain; puffiness or
swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue;
sneezing ; shortness of breath; skin rash; sore throat;
troubled breathing; tightness in chest; unusual tiredness or
weakness; wheezing
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical
attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your
body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any
of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
? More common
? Constipation; headache; nausea and vomiting; unusual
tiredness or weakness
? Less common or rare
? Abdominal or stomach pain; anxiety; blurred or double vision;
breast pain (in females); burning or prickling feeling on the skin;
confusion; diarrhea ; difficulty in speaking; dizziness;
drowsiness; loss of appetite; loss of muscle coordination;
mental depression; muscle pain; runny or stuffy nose; skin rash
or itching ; sore throat; trouble in sleeping; unusual weight
gain; urinary incontinence or increased urge to urinate"
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Another fairly comprehensive source of information on Temodar is Rxlist.com:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/temoz.htm
Here is a link to their page on the side effects of Temodar:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/temoz_ad.htm
This page also includes a table giving percentages of patients (based
on a study of 158 patients) who suffered each type of side effect,
divided into total and Grade 3/4 (more severe side effects, often
requiring discontinuation of treatment).
The most common side effect is nausea and vomiting. One of the side
effects of significant concern is myelosuppression (a decrease in the
bone marrow's ability to generate new blood cells). For this reason,
patients need to have baseline and routine bloodwork done while being
treated, to ensure that they are not dangerously low on white blood
cells or platelets. Here is more information on this effect:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/temoz_wcp.htm
Here is a Patient Information page on temozolomide:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/temoz_pi.htm
----------------------
There are several articles on efficacy, although this is not directly
related to your question.
Here is one review article (not available free online however):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14624222
Here is the abstract:
"The discovery of temozolomide in the 1980s was expected to be an
important advance in improving survival for patients with malignant
brain tumors. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the activity
of temozolomide against recurrent or refractory gliomas and noncentral
nervous system malignancies. In the last 2 years, studies have focused
on exploring strategies to optimize the efficacy of temozolomide,
including evaluating different temozolomide dosing schedules and
combining temozolomide with other antineoplastic agents, radiation
therapy, or drug resistance-modifying agents. RECENT FINDINGS: A
critical review of these studies suggests that temozolomide, as
currently used, has limited efficacy in treating refractory malignant
infiltrative brain tumors, and survival benefit is, at best, a few
weeks longer than that with procarbazine. There is enthusiasm about
the activity of temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent low-grade
gliomas and advanced malignant melanomas. Temozolomide has activity
and a favorable safety profile in all dosing schedules tested.
Nevertheless, the trials evaluating the efficacy of temozolomide
suffer from being uncontrolled, with short follow-up periods. SUMMARY:
Despite the advantages of a favorable safety profile and oral
administration, temozolomide has yet to realize its initial promise
and full potential. Studies of temozolomide combined with novel drug
resistance-modifying agents will likely improve disease control while
minimizing toxicities, leading to improved survival benefit. Larger,
randomized trials comparing temozolomide with standard therapy are
needed to confirm the suggested benefit from temozolomide in malignant
brain tumors. Temozolomide will continue to be attractive as an agent
in the treatment of brain tumors because of its desirable features and
safety."
Here is another article, from Clinical Cancer Research, which is
available free online:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10914698
The article (full text) is available here:
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/6/7/2585
or in PDF format:
http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/reprint/6/7/2585
----------------------
I hope this information was helpful. Please feel free to ask for clarification.
-welte-ga |
