Neupogen

Description Of Neupogen

Neukine (filgrastim) is a man-made form of a protein that stimulates the growth of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection. Neukine is used to treat neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by cancer, bone marrow transplant, receiving chemotherapy, or by other conditions.

Neukine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

How to Use

Neukine should not be given within the 24-hour period before or after you receive chemotherapy.

Neukine is injected into a vein or under the skin. You may be shown how to use an IV at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, syringes, IV tubing, and other items used to inject the medicine.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

This medicine comes with patient instructions for safe and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Do not shake the medication bottle or you may ruin the medicine. Prepare your dose only when you are ready to give an injection. Do not use if the medicine has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Use a different place on your arms, stomach, hips, or legs each time you give the injection. Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject the medication. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.

Each single-use vial (bottle) of this medicine is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left in it after injecting your dose. Do not use Neukine if the expiration date on the label has passed. Call your pharmacist for a new prescription.

Use a disposable needle only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

You may need frequent medical tests to help your doctor determine how long to treat you with Neukine. Your liver function will also need to be tested, and you may need bone density scans.

Store this medication in the refrigerator and do not allow it to freeze. You may allow the medication to reach room temperature for 24 hours before measuring your dose in a syringe. Then place the vial back in the refrigerator. Throw away any Neukine that has been left out at room temperature for longer than 24 hours.

Side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Neukine: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Neukine and call your doctor at once if you have:
•    sudden or severe pain in your left upper stomach spreading up to your shoulder;
•    rapid breathing or feeling short of breath; or
•    signs of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, unusual weakness.

Common Neukine side effects may include:
•    nausea, vomiting;
•    muscle or joint pain;
•    bone pain; or
•    headache.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Warnings & Precautions

Shipping Restriction