Filgrastim
Description
Filgrastim is a human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) analog. It stimulates the growth of white blood cells and helps in decreasing the chances of infection in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy procedures for cancer. Patients with blood disorders are advised not to use this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Filgrastim
- Stomach pain
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Bone pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Swelling or inflammation of mouth
Uses of Filgrastim
What is it prescribed for?
- Neutropenia caused by chemotherapy
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Peripheral Progenitor Cell Transplantation
- Chronic Neutropenia
- Neutropenia caused by radiation
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its effect is 1 to 3 days.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to Filgrastim and pegfilgrastim products.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless necessary. The risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Splenic Rupture
This medicine should be used with caution due to the increased risk of splenic rupture. Patients having abdominal and/or shoulder tip pain while taking this medicine should consult the doctor immediately. Your doctor may advise you to stop the medicine based on your clinical condition.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
This medicine has been shown to cause Acute respiratory distress syndrome in rare cases. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine. Report any symptoms of fever or respiratory distress to the doctor on priority. Replacement with a suitable alternative might be required based on the clinical condition.
Sickle cell crisis
This medicine not recommended for use in patients with a known history of sickle cell disease due to the increased risk of serious and life threatening reactions. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine. Replacement with a suitable alternative might be required based on the clinical condition.
Missed Dose
If a dose of Filgrastim is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Cisplatin
Fluorouracil
Doxorubicin
Disease interactions
Glomerulonephritis
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with Renal dysfunction due to the increased risk of glomerulonephritis. Report to the doctor any symptoms such as swelling of ankles and face, blood in the urine, dark colored urine, or decreased urine output immediately. An alternative treatment option should be considered based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Myeloid Tumors
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with Myeloid tumors due to the increased risk of tumor growth. Report to the doctor all your medical conditions before taking this medicine.
Leukocytosis
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with Leukocytosis due to the increased risk of excessive white blood cell count. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with an alternative medicine should be done under your doctor's supervision.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Do not use Filgrastim for any conditions other than those specified by the doctor. Report to the doctor all your medical conditions and current medicines before taking this medication. Report any undesired effects or lack of improvement to the doctor on priority.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine works by stimulating the production of white blood cells and thus helps to fight against infections.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Colony stimulating factors
Schedule
N/A
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - filgrastim injection, solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
Filgrastim - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 19 July 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 8 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.