How long do Temozolomide side effects last?

The major side effects associated with the use of temozolomide leading to treatment discontinuation are myelosuppression and delayed thrombocytopenia (usually reversible). This side effect usually occurs 21-28 days after starting each treatment cycle and improves to grade 1 thrombocytopenia 7-14 days after stopping treatment. In clinical trials, 10% of patients developed grade 4 myelosuppression after cumulative doses exceeding 1000 mg/m2 over 5 days.

One study showed that when radiation therapy was combined with standard-dose temozolomide (75 mg/m2), 7% of patients had to interrupt treatment due to severe blood toxicity. This number increased to 14% when maintenance doses of temozolomide (150-200 mg/m2/day) were initiated. Non-hematological side effects are generally mild to moderate and are related to dose and temozolomide treatment regimen. These non-hematological effects can alter the patient's quality of life and are mainly short-term, low-frequency nausea and vomiting. It is usually treated with standard antiemetics, such as metoclopramide or serotonin. Patients generally respond well to these prophylactic treatments, such that approximately half of the patients receiving the low-dose and continuous-dose regimens do not require any antiemetic treatment after initial dosing.

The original drug temozolomide has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. Common specificationsThe price of 100mg*1 tablet*5 bags per box may be around 2,000 yuan. The generic drugs of temozolomide marketed overseas are relatively low-priced, and their drug ingredients are basically the same as those of the original drug of temozolomide. For example, the price of a box of 100mg*5 produced by a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical factory may be around a few hundred yuan (the price may fluctuate due to exchange rates).