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Neupogen® (filgrastim)

What is it? 

NEUPOGEN stimulates your bone marrow to make neutrophils, the white blood cells that help the body fight infections. NEUPOGEN works by acting like a protein your own body already produces, prompting your body to work exactly as it does when you're healthy. By boosting your white blood cell count back up into the normal range, NEUPOGEN can play an important part in maintaining your white blood cells so your chemotherapy can stay on schedule. (If your white blood cell count drops, your doctor may put your chemotherapy on hold or reduce your dose to give your body the rest it needs to recover.)

NEUPOGEN is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection (initially marked by fever) in patients with some tumors receiving chemotherapy that may decrease the number of infection fighting white blood cells. Staying on schedule at the prescribed chemotherapy dose can be important to the success of your treatment. Research has shown that staying on schedule at full dose could impact the chance of improved survival.1,2,3

 

Before you take it 

NEUPOGEN is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins, filgrastim, or any component of the product.

 

How to take it? 

NEUPOGEN is usually taken daily for 7 to 14 days, until your white blood cell count improves, starting 24 hours after you complete each cycle of chemotherapy. It can be given by injection under the skin or through a vein, either in your doctor's office or at a clinic.

Some doctors may prescribe NEUPOGEN at the start of chemotherapy; as a preventative measure against the danger of a low white blood cell count. Other doctors prefer to wait until a regular complete blood count (CBC) test reveals a low white blood cell count. Of course, as with any medication, NEUPOGEN is not appropriate for everyone. Ask your doctor if it's right for you.

Please keep in mind that NEUPOGEN does not eliminate the risk of infection entirely. What it does is minimize your risk. Always be on the alert for common signs of infection, such as fever, chills, sore throat, rash, diarrhea, redness, swelling, or pain around a wound or sore. If you experience any one of these, call your doctor or nurse immediately.

 

Possible side effects 

With NEUPOGEN, as with any medication, you may experience some side effects. In a large study with 207 patients receiving NEUPOGEN therapy following combination chemotherapy, bone pain was reported in 22% of patients. In most cases, bone pain was controlled with non-narcotic analgesics such as acetaminophen.

 

Storing it 

NEUPOGEN should be stored in the refrigerator at 2 to 8 C (36 to 46 F).

  • Avoid shaking.

  • Prior to injection, NEUPOGEN may be allowed to reach room temperature for a maximum of 24 hours.

  • Any vial or prefilled syringe left at room temperature for greater than 24 hours should be discarded.

 

Further information 

For answers to specific healthcare questions or concerns, Roche recommends consulting your physician or professional healthcare provider.

  • Bonadonna G, Valagussa P, Moliterni A, Zambetti M, Brambilla C. Adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil in node-positive breast cancer: the results of 20 years of follow-up. N Engl J Med. 1995;332:901-906.

  • Budman DR, Berry DA, Cirrincione CT, et al. Dose and dose intensity as determinants of outcome in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B. Natl Cancer Inst. 1998; 90:1205-1211.

  • Wood WC, Budman DR, Korzun AH, et al. Dose and dose intensity of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II, node-positive breast carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 1994;330:1253-1259.