Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4   Special warnings and precautions for use

Opportunistic infections and reactivation of infections
Opportunistic infections (such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia) and reactivation of infections (such as HBV, CMV) have been observed during the treatment with TMZ (see section 4.8).

Meningoencephalitis herpetic

In post marketing cases, meningoencephalitis herpetic (including fatal cases) has been observed in patients receiving TMZ in combination with radiotherapy, including cases of concomitant steroids administration.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

Patients who received concomitant TMZ and RT in a pilot trial for the prolonged 42-day schedule were shown to be at particular risk for developing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP). Thus, prophylaxis against PCP is required for all patients receiving concomitant TMZ and RT for the 42-day regimen (with a maximum of 49 days) regardless of lymphocyte count. If lymphopenia occurs, they are to continue the prophylaxis until recovery of lymphopenia to grade ≤ 1.

There may be a higher occurrence of PCP when TMZ is administered during a longer dosing regimen.
However, all patients receiving TMZ, particularly patients receiving steroids, should be observed closely for the development of PCP, regardless of the regimen. Cases of fatal respiratory failure have been reported in patients using TMZ, in particular in combination with dexamethasone or other steroids.

HBV
Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in death, has been reported.
Experts in liver disease should be consulted before treatment is initiated in patients with positive hepatitis B serology (including those with active disease). During treatment patients should be monitored and managed appropriately.


Hepatotoxicity

Hepatic injury, including fatal hepatic failure, has been reported in patients treated with TMZ (see section 4.8). Baseline liver function tests should be performed prior to treatment initiation. If abnormal, physicians should assess the benefit/risk prior to initiating temozolomide including the potential for fatal hepatic failure. For patients on a 42 day treatment cycle liver function tests should be repeated midway during this cycle. For all patients, liver function tests should be checked after each treatment cycle. For patients with significant liver function abnormalities, physicians should assess the benefit/risk of continuing treatment. Liver toxicity may occur several weeks or more after the last treatment with temozolomide.

Malignancies

Cases of myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary malignancies, including myeloid leukaemia, have also been reported very rarely (see section 4.8).

Anti-emetic therapy

Nausea and vomiting are very commonly associated with TMZ.
Anti-emetic therapy may be administered prior to or following administration of TMZ.
Adult patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme

Anti-emetic prophylaxis is recommended prior to the initial dose of concomitant phase and it is strongly recommended during the monotherapy phase.

Patients with recurrent or progressive malignant glioma

Patients who have experienced severe (Grade 3 or 4) vomiting in previous treatment cycles may require anti-emetic therapy.

Laboratory parameters

Patients treated with TMZ may experience myelosuppression, including prolonged pancytopenia, which may result in aplastic anaemia, which in some cases has resulted in a fatal outcome. In some cases, exposure to concomitant medicinal products associated with aplastic anaemia, including carbamazepine, phenytoin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, complicates assessment. Prior to dosing, the following laboratory parameters must be met: ANC ≥ 1.5 x 109/l and platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/l. A complete blood count should be obtained on Day 22 (21 days after the first dose) or within 48 hours of that day, and weekly until ANC > 1.5 x 109/l and platelet count > 100 x 109/l. If ANC falls to < 1.0 x 109/l or the platelet count is < 50 x 109/l during any cycle, the next cycle should be reduced one dose level (see section 4.2). Dose levels include 100 mg/m2, 150 mg/m2, and 200 mg/m2. The lowest recommended dose is 100 mg/m2.

Paediatric population

Anaplastic astrocytoma/Glioblastoma multiforme:
There is no clinical experience with use of TMZ in children under the age of 3 years. Experience in older children (over the age of 3 years) and adolescents with glioma is very limited (see sections 4.2 and 5.1).

Melanoma:
There is no clinical experience in patients under 18 years of age.

Elderly patients (> 70 years of age)
Elderly patients appear to be at increased risk of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, compared with younger patients. Therefore, special care should be taken when TMZ is administered in elderly patients.
Female patients

Women of childbearing potential have to use effective contraception to avoid pregnancy while they are receiving TMZ, and for at least 6 months following completion of treatment.


Male patients
Men being treated with TMZ should be advised not to father a child for at least 3 months after receiving the last dose and to seek advice on cryoconservation of sperm prior to treatment (see section 4.6).

Lactose

This medicinal product contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Sodium

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Effects on Driving

4.7   Effects on ability to drive and use machines

TMZ has minor influence on the ability to drive and use machines due to fatigue and somnolence (see section 4.8).