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|Filgrastim

Filgrastim

Filgrastim is used for:

Decreasing the risk of infection in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant. It is also used to decrease the risk of infection in patients with weakened immune systems due to other causes.

Filgrastim is a hematopoietic agent. It works by stimulating the production of neutrophils (a type of white blood cells) by bone marrow.

Do NOT use Filgrastim if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Filgrastim
• you are allergic to Escherichia coli (E. coli)-derived proteins

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Filgrastim :

Some medical conditions may interact with Filgrastim . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you are taking lithium or undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• if you have leukemia, other blood disorders (eg, myelodysplastic syndrome), an infection of the blood or tissue, or sickle cell disease

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Filgrastim . However, no specific interactions with Filgrastim are known at this time.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Filgrastim may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Filgrastim :

Use Filgrastim as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Do not shake Filgrastim . Shaking may damage Filgrastim . If the vial or syringe has been shaken, the solution may appear foamy and it should not be used.
• Sickle cell disease patients - Drinking extra fluids while you are taking Filgrastim is recommended. Check with your doctor for instructions.
• Filgrastim is usually administered as an injection at your doctor"s office, hospital, or clinic. If you are using Filgrastim at home, carefully follow the injection procedures taught to you by your health care provider.
• If Filgrastim contains particles or is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Continue to use Filgrastim for the full course of treatment. Do not miss any doses.
• Filgrastim works best if it is taken at the same time each day.
• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Dispose of properly after use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain local regulations for proper disposal.
• If you miss a dose of Filgrastim , contact your doctor immediately.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Filgrastim .

Important safety information:

• Filgrastim may cause an allergic reaction (rash; hives; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue) within 30 minutes after receiving this medication. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience an allergic reaction.
• Contact your doctor immediately if pain occurs in the left upper stomach area or left shoulder tip area. These could be symptoms of an enlarged or ruptured spleen.
• Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking lithium.
• LAB TESTS, including blood tests (platelet counts, white blood cell counts), may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Filgrastim during pregnancy. It is unknown if Filgrastim is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Filgrastim , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Filgrastim :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Bone pain; cough; headache; inflammation of the mucous membranes; nausea; nosebleed; skeletal/muscle pain; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; chills; diarrhea; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; lump, swelling, or bruising at an injection site; mouth sores; redness, swelling, or pain around a cut or sore; severe weakness; shoulder pain; sore throat; stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Filgrastim is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Filgrastim at home, store Filgrastim as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Filgrastim out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Filgrastim , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Filgrastim is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Filgrastim . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.