Home › Chemotherapy › Temozolomide (Temodal, Temoget): — The Brain Tumour Capsule

Brain tumour chemotherapy

Temozolomide (Temodal, Temoget): The Brain Tumour Capsule

Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh Gundu, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar) · DNB Internal Medicine (Sir Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi) · DM Medical Oncology (AIIMS) · Last reviewed September 2026

Temozolomide is a chemotherapy capsule you take at home — not an infusion. That makes it more convenient than most chemotherapy, but it also means the timing rules are yours to follow on every dose day.

Prescription-only medicine.

Temozolomide is a prescription-only chemotherapy medicine. It is given under the supervision of a specialist oncologist and cannot be started, changed, or stopped based on anything read online. It is not suitable for everyone — see who this is not for below.

Talk to an oncologist

Leave your details and a member of the oncology team will call you back to answer questions about your treatment plan.

No charge for the call, and no obligation to book anything.

412Chemotherapy pages, written and reviewed

17Oncologists on the panel

10Centres across Hyderabad

41Locations across two states

In short

Temozolomide — sold in India as Temodal and Temoget — is a chemotherapy capsule taken by mouth, used mainly for brain tumours. It is taken on an empty stomach, usually at night. Nausea and low blood counts are the main side effects to plan for during your course.

At a glance

What do the words on your prescription mean?

TemozolomideThe generic name for the medicine. It belongs to a class called alkylating agents — chemotherapy drugs that damage the DNA inside dividing cancer cells, stopping them from reproducing.

Temodal / TemogetBrand names under which temozolomide is prescribed and dispensed in India. Both contain the same active medicine.

Alkylating agentA type of chemotherapy that attaches a chemical tag to cancer cell DNA, blocking the cell from copying itself. Temozolomide is unusual in this class because it works when taken by mouth.

MGMT methylationA molecular marker tested on your tumour tissue. It describes a change in a DNA-repair gene. Your oncologist uses this result, alongside your tumour type and your overall health, when deciding whether temozolomide is appropriate for you.

MyelosuppressionA fall in blood cells produced by the bone marrow. Temozolomide can reduce white blood cells and platelets, which is why blood counts are checked before each cycle.

In detail

What is temozolomide used for?

Temozolomide is used primarily for glioblastoma and certain other brain tumours, including anaplastic astrocytoma. It is one of the few chemotherapy drugs that crosses the blood-brain barrier — the protective layer that prevents most medicines from reaching the brain.

Unlike most chemotherapy, it is taken as a capsule at home rather than by infusion in a clinic. Fewer hospital visits is the benefit; following the timing rules on every dose day is the responsibility that comes with it.

Your oncologist decides whether temozolomide is appropriate for your tumour type, its molecular markers, and your individual situation.

Step by step

How do you take temozolomide correctly?

Take it on an empty stomach

Your prescription label and pharmacist will confirm the exact food-free window. Food reduces how much of the medicine your body absorbs, so the timing applies on every dose day without exception.

Swallow capsules whole

Do not open, crush, or chew them. If a capsule breaks, avoid inhaling any powder. Wash your hands thoroughly and avoid skin contact with the contents.

Take it at the same time each day

Many people take it in the evening. Nausea tends to peak in the first few hours after a dose — taking it before sleep means you rest through the worst of it.

If you vomit shortly after a dose

Do not take a replacement capsule the same day. Report it to your team at your next contact so they can advise if it happens again.

Follow your cycle schedule exactly

Temozolomide is not taken every day. Your oncologist sets the dose days and rest days within each cycle. The rest days are part of the plan, not optional gaps.

Eligibility

Who this medicine is not suitable for

Temozolomide is not suitable for everyone. Eligibility is decided by an oncologist on the individual case, based on tumour biology, organ function, and blood counts.

Have a known allergy to temozolomide or to dacarbazine (DTIC), which shares a similar chemical structure.
Have severely reduced bone marrow functionWhite blood cell or platelet counts already significantly below normal before treatment starts.
Are pregnant. Temozolomide can harm a developing baby. Reliable contraception is required during treatment and for a period after it ends; your oncologist will advise on the specific duration.
Are breastfeeding.
Have severely impaired liver or kidney function, which may affect how the body processes the medicine.

Your oncologist will assess blood counts, organ function, and tumour biology before any prescription is considered.

Want to talk this through with an oncologist?

Leave your number and an oncology coordinator will call you back at a time that suits you.

In detail

What side effects does temozolomide cause?

Nausea is the most common side effect. It tends to be worst in the first few hours after a dose and is usually most noticeable in the first cycle. Anti-nausea medicine is prescribed alongside temozolomide — take it as directed, before the nausea starts rather than waiting until it is already bad.

Low blood counts are the main serious risk. Temozolomide reduces the bone marrow's ability to make white blood cells and platelets. Blood tests before each cycle check whether counts are safe enough to continue.

Fatigue is common throughout the course and does not always improve with rest alone. Other effects some people notice include constipation, headache, and mild hair thinning.

A less common but specific risk is Pneumocystis pneumonia — a lung infection caused by a fungus. A preventive antibiotic is often prescribed for the duration of treatment.

Question by question

Questions people ask about taking temozolomide

Does the empty-stomach rule apply every dose day for the whole course?

Yes — every dose day, not just the first. Food changes how much of the medicine your body absorbs, and consistency matters across a course that may run for several months. If the timing is difficult because of nausea or your daily schedule, talk to your oncologist or pharmacist before changing anything. There are often practical approaches that keep the window without disrupting your routine.

What happens if my blood counts fall too low to start the next cycle?

Your oncologist sets a threshold below which your next cycle is delayed or your schedule adjusted. A delay is a planned safety step, not a sign that treatment is failing. Missing the blood test before a cycle is not safe — that test is how a dangerously low count is caught before it leads to serious infection or uncontrolled bleeding. If you feel unwell or develop a fever between tests, call your team the same day rather than waiting.

Is there a serious infection risk I should watch for?

Yes. When white blood cells fall, your body is less able to fight infection. There is also a specific risk of Pneumocystis pneumonia, caused by a fungus that healthy people carry without harm. Your team may prescribe a preventive antibiotic for the length of your course — take it exactly as directed. A new fever, cough, or difficulty breathing at any point during treatment means call the same day. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment.

Can I take other medicines, vitamins, or herbal preparations alongside it?

Some medicines change how temozolomide moves through the body. Some herbal or ayurvedic preparations can worsen side effects or reduce how well the medicine works. Tell your oncologist and dispensing pharmacist everything you take — including vitamins, over-the-counter medicines, and any traditional preparations. Do not start or stop anything during your course without checking first. These interactions can be clinically significant, not just theoretical.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

Do not take the missed capsule later in the day, and do not take a double dose the next day. Contact your treating team and let them advise — they will usually ask you to continue with your next scheduled dose as planned. Keeping a simple daily record of what you took and when makes these conversations straightforward and helps your team see exactly what happened in your cycle.

Worth knowing

Did you know?

Temozolomide is one of the few chemotherapy drugs that crosses the blood-brain barrier — the protective layer that prevents most medicines from reaching the brain. Without this property, most systemic chemotherapy cannot reach a brain tumour at all.

Source: NCCN Guidelines for Central Nervous System Tumours

Still have a question about your treatment? Tell us what is on your chart and an oncologist will explain what it means for you, what to expect and what your schedule is likely to look like.

Talk to an oncologist 1800 202 8726

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Why do doctors often recommend taking temozolomide at night?

Nausea is the most common side effect and tends to peak in the first few hours after a dose. Taking the capsule at night means you are likely to sleep through the worst of that window rather than feeling unwell during the day. Some people find a morning dose easier to fit around their schedule, combined with anti-nausea medicine taken beforehand. Discuss your preference with your oncologist — the empty-stomach rule applies at whatever time you both agree on.

How long will I need to take temozolomide?

The course length depends on your tumour type, how it responds, and your blood counts — it varies between people. For glioblastoma it is typically given in two phases: one period alongside radiotherapy, then a series of monthly cycles. Your oncologist will set your individual plan and review it at each assessment. Asking for an expected timeline at your next appointment is a reasonable and useful question to raise.

Will temozolomide cause my hair to fall out?

Significant hair loss is not a common effect of temozolomide. Mild thinning is reported by some people. Hair loss during brain tumour treatment is more often related to radiotherapy directed at the scalp than to the chemotherapy. Ask your oncologist what to expect specifically in your plan — the answer depends on whether radiotherapy is included and where it is targeted.

Can I drive while taking temozolomide?

The medicine itself does not typically cause sedation, but fatigue is a common side effect, and brain tumours can affect concentration, coordination, and reaction time independently of any treatment. Whether driving is safe for you is a question your neurologist or oncologist should answer based on your tumour location, your current function, and any seizure history. Do not assume it is safe simply because the medicine is taken as a capsule.

Is temozolomide available as a generic in India?

Yes. It is dispensed under the brand names Temodal and Temoget in India, and generic versions are also available. The active medicine is identical regardless of brand. Cost varies between brands and between government and private healthcare settings. Your oncologist or the hospital pharmacy can advise on what is dispensed in your specific setting.

Which symptoms between blood tests mean I should call my team today?

Your oncologist will give you specific values to watch for in your own results. Between tests, call the same day if you develop a fever, unusual bruising, bleeding that does not settle quickly, or any new difficulty breathing. These can indicate that a low blood count has become a clinical problem rather than just a number on a form. Do not wait for a scheduled appointment if any of these appear.

Who would be treating you

The medical oncologists on the CION panel

Chemotherapy is prescribed, dosed and supervised by a medical oncologist. These are the six on the CION panel.

Dr. Naresh Gundu

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · DNB Internal Medicine (Sir Gangaram, New Delhi) · DM Medical Oncology (AIIMS)

Call Book appointment

Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy

Medical Oncologist

MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Kukatpally

Call Book appointment

Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK)

Call Book appointment

Dr. Owais Mohammed

Medical Oncologist

Call Book appointment

Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy

Medical Oncologist

MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · L.B. Nagar

Call Book appointment

Dr. N. Kiranmayee

Medical Oncologist

Call Book appointment

Which oncologist you see depends on the centre nearest you and on what your treatment involves. Tell us where you are and we will point you to the closest.

Talk it through

Reading about a medicine is not the same as being told what to expect

This page explains what the medicine does in general. What it cannot tell you is how your own regimen was chosen, what your schedule looks like, or which of these effects apply to you — that needs your reports and a conversation.

Free first consultation Second opinion on an existing plan 10 centres across Hyderabad

Speak to an oncologist

Share your details and the team will call you back to arrange a consultation or a second opinion.

Bring your reports if you have them. If you do not, come anyway.

list of links to other editorial pages, which base contract s2.1 permits explicitly. It contains no form, no phone number and no CTA button, so it does not turn this page into an advertisement. Generated by scripts/hub_update.py --include-out. -->

Full index