Neupogen (Filgrastim)

General Information on Neupogen

You may buy Neupogen for treating a disease called neutropenia, or white blood cell deficiency. A person may have neutropenia because of cancer, chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant. To treat neutropenia, medical practitioners around the world use Neupogen, which is a man-made protein which helps in stimulating the growth of white blood cells. The generic name of the drug is Filgrastim.

Side Effects of Neupogen

All medicines have side effects, but these side effects vary from person to person. However, Neupogen is associated with some mild side effects. The most common ones are given below:

• Muscle pain or ache
• Bone pain
• Vomiting
• Skeletal pain
• Nosebleeding
• Headache
• Cough

The mentioned side effects above are the most common ones, which tend to surface and disappear within a matter of days, but the drug also has some severe side effects. If these side effects are seen in a patient, it is best to consult a doctor to prevent any mishap.

Some of the more severe Neupogen side effects are as follows:

• Allergic reactions like itching, severe rashes, swelling of the face, breathing difficulties, etc.
• Chest pain or chest tightness.
• Stomach pain or ache.
• Wheezing.
• Irregular heartbeat, often shooting up.
• Mouth sore.
• Diarrhea.
• Swelling or redness around any cut.

Before you buy Neupogen, it is important to visit a doctor and determine how safe it is to take the drug. Patients receiving chemotherapy, or have a sickle cell disorder or a blood cell problem should always consult a physician before taking the drug. The drug should never be injected in the absence of proper medical practitioners. Patients should not go on taking the drug blindly. Regular blood tests need to be done to ascertain how much the drug is actually helping. It is advised for people who show allergic reactions to medications containing the E. coli bacteria not to take the drug. There is no substantial proof of the drug harming pregnant women, but its best to consult a doctor before taking it.

Dosage of Neupogen

When taking Neupogen, one should always follow the doctor’s prescribed amounts and time period. Taking the drug in larger amounts and longer than prescribed might result in serious complications. The drug is injected. Patients should be careful if they decide to inject the drug on their own. Proper knowledge is necessary with regards to the usage and disposal of needles, syringes, etc. Chemotherapy patients should not use the drug in a 24 hour period before and after receiving chemotherapy. It is also recommended to not inject the drug in the same part of your body on two successive occasions. A doctor should be consulted regarding the location of the injections. The drug should be stored in a refrigerator. But it should not be allowed to freeze.

Interactions

Neupogen mainly shows interactions with two forms of medication, chemotherapy and lithium. Neupogen should never be taken along with chemotherapy medications, because it goes on to decrease the white blood cell count. And taking it with lithium results in the increase of the chances of strokes and heart attacks.