Filgrastim

Brand Name:Neupogen

Prescription needed: Yes

What is this drug used for?

Filgrastim works by stimulating the body’s bone marrow to produce white blood cells.

Filgrastim is used to treat neutropenia, a condition where the body makes too few infection-fighting white blood cells. Neutropenia may be a long-standing condition, present at birth (congenital), or it may be caused by drugs (for example, drugs used to treat cancer). It can decrease the chance of infection in cancer patients and allow more effective doses of cancer medications to be given. In some cases, your body may make enough white blood cells, but as part of your cancer treatment your doctor may wish to increase the amount of white blood cells your body makes and collect them. Those collected cells are given back to you after you receive your treatment for cancer.

This medication is sometimes used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Filgrastim is infused into a vein or injected under your skin.

Is there any reason not to take this drug?

You should not take this drug if you are allergic to filgrastim or other medicines made using the bacteria E-coli. Ask your doctor if you are not sure. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

  • blood disorders
  • leukemia (cancer of blood-forming organs)
  • problems with your heart or kidneys
  • problems with your liver or lungs
  • problems with immune system
  • osteoporosis
  • sickle cell disease

What about possible side effects?

The most common side effects are:

  • nausea
  • headache
  • pain in joints or muscle
  • pain in lower back or pelvis (when white blood cells come back to bone marrow)

Bone or muscle aching can usually be relieved by taking a non-aspirin pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you are not allergic or if approved by your doctor. If the pain persists for more than 24 to 48 hours, or is severe, contact your doctor.

Other side effects:

  • redness or itching at the site of injection - use a different injection site each time.
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  • If the symptoms are severe or last for several hours, or if there is swelling, bruising at the injection site that does not go away, contact your doctor.

Other less common and potentially seriously side effects include:

  • Contact your doctor right away if you experience:
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  • skin rash
  • chills, shaking or nighttime sweating
  • fever (rare)
  • rapid, irregular heartbeat (rare)
  • trouble breathing, chest tightness, wheezing (rare)
  • pain in left upper stomach or left shoulder tip – enlarged spleen (rare)

This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are concerned about these or other unusual symptoms while taking this medication, ask your doctor and/or pharmacist for more information and advice.

What if I am taking other drugs?

Always provide your doctor with a list of all other drugs you are taking (including over-the-counter medications and herbal/natural products) as they may interact with and/or may change the safety or effectiveness of either drug. Tell your doctor specifically if you are taking any of these drugs as these are the most common interactions and he/she may need to make changes or monitor you more closely:

  • chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy drugs – they may affect the white blood cell growth
  • lithium – may increase the release of white blood cells

This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your list of medications.

Other information:

How to take this medication: Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist the proper way to administer and dispose of this medication.

If you experience mild itching, use cold compresses or oatmeal bath.

Filgrastim has few side effects. With long-term use, cases of some leukemias have been reported, although no direct relationship has been established. Other rare reports include osteoporosis and/or enlargement of the spleen. Your doctor may want to regularly check the condition of your blood to make sure the medication is working. S/he may also perform x-rays and bone scans to check for bone thinning.

Filgrastim may reduce your risk of getting an infection by increasing your white blood cell count, but an infection can still happen during the time when your white blood cell levels are low. If you have any signs of infection, such as fever, chills, rash, sore throat, swelling around a cut or sore, contact your doctor right away.

Children: Can generally be used. Talk to your doctor.

Seniors: Are more sensitive to side effects and lower doses are usually necessary, especially at the start of therapy.

Pregnant women: Talk to your doctor for risks versus benefits.

Women who are nursing: Little information is known regarding whether filgrastim can get into breast milk. Talk to your doctor.

People who drive or operate machinery: No known problems.

Alcohol: No known problems. If you drink, always drink in moderation.

Overdose: If you experience any unusual reactions or if you seriously exceed the recommended dosage, call your doctor or 911.

Stopping the drug: Talk to your doctor before you stop taking this drug. Stopping treatment could cause your condition to worsen.

If you miss a dose: Take it as soon as you remember. If the next dose is due within 6 hours take the dose now and skip the next. Do not take a double dose.

Storage conditions: Closed container; cool, dry location away from excess moisture (not in the bathroom) and light; always out of reach of children.

Dietary precautions: None unless prescribed by your doctor.