Filgrastim - Medicines Information - Chemocare (2023)

(I GRA-stimulator)

Tradenames:Neupogen®, Granix®

Biosimilares:Zarxio®

A biosimilar is a biological medical device that is a nearly identical copy of an original drug made by another pharmaceutical company.

Other names:G-CSF, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

Chemocare.com uses generic names in all drug descriptions. Neupogen, Granix, and Zarxio are brand names for filgrastim. Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) is another name for Filgrastim. In some cases, healthcare professionals may use the trade name Neupogen, Granix, or Zarxio when referring to the generic name Filgrastim.

Art des Medicaments:Filgrastim is a biological response modifier. It is classified as a colony stimulating factor and a hematopoietic agent. (See the "How this medicine works" section below for more details.)

What Filgrastim is used for:

• Filgrastim is used to stimulate the production of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell) in patients receiving therapy that causes low white blood cell counts. This medication is used to prevent infections and neutropenic fever (low white blood cell count) caused by chemotherapy.
• Filgrastim is an adjuvant medication. It does not treat cancer.

Supervision:Once a drug has been approved for one use, doctors can use the same drug for other conditions if they think it might help.

How Filgrastim is given:

• Filgrastim can be given as an injection under the skin (the layer between the skin and the muscle) or as an infusion into a vein (intravenous, IV).
• Filgrastim is usually administered daily. Your doctor will prescribe the number of days that you will be given filgrastim.
• Filgrastim needs to be refrigerated. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before injection. Do not shake the medicine. Protect from light.

The amount of Filgrastim that you receive depends on many factors, including your height and weight, general health or other medical conditions, and the type of cancer or condition being treated. Your doctor will determine your dose and schedule.

Side effects:

Important information about Filgrastim side effects.

• Most people do not experience all of the listed filgrastim side effects.
• Filgrastim side effects are often predictable in terms of onset, duration, and severity.
• Filgrastim side effects improve after stopping therapy.
• Filgrastim side effects can be quite manageable. There are many ways to minimize or prevent the side effects of filgrastim.

Filgrastim is an adjuvant medication. The following list contains side effects attributed to filgrastim. Other side effects found were attributed to the chemotherapy and/or the disease.

The following side effects are common (more than 30%) in patients taking filgrastim:

• thrombocytopenia(low platelet count)
• nausea
• Fever
• bone-ache.Bone pain can be relieved with over-the-counter medications, including pain relievers such as NSAIDs (ibuprofen) or antihistamines (Claritin). Talk to your doctor before taking over-the-counter medications.

These side effects are less common side effects (occurring in approximately 10-29%) of patients receiving filgrastim:

• Abnormalities in blood tests (transient increases in lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase). These return to normal as soon as treatment is stopped.
• tenderness and rednessat the injection site.
• petechiae (a small red or purple bump caused by bleeding under the skin)
• Back pain
• Epistaxis(nosebleeds)
• Tos
• dyspnoea(difficulty breathing)

Not all side effects are listed above. Some that are rare (occur in less than 10% of patients) are not included here. However, you should always tell your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

When to contact your doctor or health care provider:

Contact your healthcare providerimmediately, day or night if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills (possible signs of infection)
• difficulty breathing
• racing heartbeat
• Bleeding that does not stop after a few minutes.
• Any new skin rash

The following symptoms require medical attention but are not emergencies. Contact your healthcare providerin 24 hourstaking into account the following:

• Bone pain that does not go away despite taking the recommended pain reliever

Always tell your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

Precautions for Filgrastim:

• The manufacturer recommends administering the first dose of filgrastim at least 24 hours after chemotherapy. Your doctor will stop treatment with filgrastim when your white blood cell count reaches an acceptable level.
• Filgrastim may not be recommended if you have had a hypersensitivity reaction to filgrastim or E. coli-derived proteins.
• The packaging of some dosage forms may contain latex.
• Do not receive any immunizations or vaccinations while taking Filgrastim without your doctor's advice.
• Tell your doctor if you are or might be pregnant before starting this treatment. Pregnancy category C (use only when the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the fetus).
• For women: Do not conceive (get pregnant) while taking filgrastim. Barrier methods of contraception such as condoms are recommended. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe to become pregnant or conceive after therapy.
• Talk to your doctor before breast-feeding while taking this medication.

Tips for personal care with Filgrastim:

• If you are making your own subcutaneous injections, take the syringe out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before injecting. This will reduce local burning at the injection site.
• Bone or joint pain may occur as a result of this medication. Ask your doctor if you can take a mild pain reliever to relieve this. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) can help.
• Apply a warm compress if you experience pain, redness or swelling at the injection site and tell your doctor.
• This medicine causes little nausea. But if you do have nausea, take the anti-nausea medication prescribed by your doctor and eat small meals often. Sucking on lozenges and chewing gum can also help.
• In general, the consumption of alcoholic beverages should be minimized or avoided altogether. You should discuss this with your doctor.
• Get enough or rest.
• Keep a good diet.
• Stay as active as you can. Mild exercise is recommended, such as B. a daily walk.
• If you experience any symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your medical team. They can prescribe medications and/or make other suggestions that are effective in managing these problems.

Monitoring and testing during the use of Filgrastim:

You will be monitored regularly by your doctor while you are taking Filgrastim to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Your doctor will order regular blood tests to monitor your complete blood count (CBC).

How Filgrastim works:

Colony stimulating factors:

Blood cells are made in the body's bone marrow (the soft, spongy material that lines the inside of bones). There are three main types of blood cells; white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen and remove waste from organs and tissues; and platelets, which allow blood to clot.

Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can affect these cells, putting a person at risk of developing infections, anemia, and bleeding problems. Colony stimulating factors are substances that stimulate the production of blood cells and promote their ability to function. They do not directly affect tumors, but despite their role in stimulating blood cells, they may be useful in supporting a person's immune system during cancer treatment.

Filgrastim is a growth factor that stimulates the production, maturation and activation of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell). Filgrastim also stimulates the release of neutrophils from the bone marrow. In patients receiving chemotherapy, filgrastim can speed up neutrophil recovery and shorten the neutropenic phase (the time during which patients are susceptible to infections).

Supervision:We strongly recommend that you talk to your doctor about your medical condition and specific treatments. The information on this website is intended to be useful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.