Does Temodar have advantages over other brain tumor drugs?
Temodar, procarbazine, and CCNU are all oral drugs; but only Temodar and procarbazine have been compared in a study. In that study, in patients with recurrent GBM, Temodar was slightly better in effectiveness, overall survival, and side effects. Studies comparing Temodar with other drugs have not yet been completed. Temodar is an oral drug, which is an advantage for patients who dislike the inconvenience of intravenous medication. It appears to be associated with fewer side effects than some other drugs, but can still cause nausea, fatigue, and low blood counts. Are there disadvantages to Temodar? All drugs have potential side effects, and Temodar, as a chemotherapy drug, is no exception. It can cause low blood counts, fatigue, nausea, and constipation. It usually does not cause hair loss. Temodar is not available as a generic and is expensive, ranging from $1200-1800 a month for most patients. In many cases, however, the drug may be obtained at reduced cost or covered by insurance. Is
