Temozolamide

The Basics

What is Temozolamide?

A chemotherapy drug.

Brand names for Temozolamide

Temodar

How Temozolamide is classified

Antineoplastic Agents, Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating

Temozolamide During Pregnancy

Temozolamide pregnancy category

Category DNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Temozolamide while pregnant

TEMODAR can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Five consecutive days of oral temozolomideadministration of 0.38 and 0.75 times the highest recommended human dose (75 and 150 mg/m2) in rats and rabbits, respectively,during the period of organogenesis caused numerous malformations of the external and internal soft tissues and skeleton in bothspecies. Doses equivalent to 0.75 times the highest recommended human dose (150 mg/m2) caused embryolethality in rats andrabbits as indicated by increased resorptions. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. If this drug isused during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potentialhazard to a fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant during therapy with TEMODAR.

Taking Temozolamide While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Temozolamide?

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, especially alkylating agents such as temozolamide.[1] It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence; however, no data are available to determine an appropriate period to withhold breastfeeding. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Most sources consider breastfeeding to be contraindicated during maternal antineoplastic drug therapy, especially alkylating agents such as temozolamide.[1] It might be possible to breastfeed safely during intermittent therapy with an appropriate period of breastfeeding abstinence; however, no data are available to determine an appropriate period to withhold breastfeeding. Chemotherapy may adversely affect the normal microbiome and chemical makeup of breastmilk.

Possible effects of Temozolamide on milk supply

A woman diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during the second trimester of pregnancy received 3 rounds of chemotherapy during the third trimester of pregnancy and resumed chemotherapy 4 weeks postpartum. Milk samples were collected 15 to 30 minutes before and after chemotherapy for 16 weeks after restarting. The regimen consisted of doxorubicin 40 mg, bleomycin 16 units, vinblastine 9.6 mg and dacarbazine 600 mg, all given over a 2-hour period every 2 weeks. The microbial population and metabolic profile of her milk were compared to those of 8 healthy women who were not receiving chemotherapy. The breastmilk microbial population in the patient was markedly different from that of the healthy women, with increases in Acinetobacter sp., Xanthomonadacae and Stenotrophomonas sp. and decreases in Bifidobacterium sp. and Eubacterium sp. Marked differences were also found among numerous chemical components in the breastmilk of the treated woman, most notably DHA and inositol were decreased.[2]

Possible alternatives to Temozolamide

None listed