Filgrastim Injection  

Helps your body make white blood cells. This will help prevent infections during cancer treatments (chemotherapy). 

Brand Name(s): Neupogen 

There may be other brand names for this medicine. 

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used 

You should not use this medicine if  you have had an allergic reaction  to filgrastim, or any other medicine made from E. coli (Escherichia coli) such as pegfilgrastim (Neulasta®). You should not use this medicine within  24 hours (1 day) before and after you receive chemotherapy or radiation treatments. 

How to Use This Medicine 

Injectable 

• Your doctor  will prescribe your exact dose and tell  you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as  a shot under your skin or into a vein. 
• This medicine can  be used for several different reasons, so there are different schedules for using it. Make sure  you understand your personal schedule. 
• A  nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. 
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor  or pharmacist if  you have any questions. 
• You  may be taught how  to give your medicine at home. Make sure  you understand all instructions before giving yourself an injection.  Do not use more medicine  or use it more often than your doctor tells  you to.You will be shown  the body areas  where this shot can be given. Use a different  body area each time  you give yourself a shot. Keep track  of where you give each shot  to make sure  you rotate body areas. 
• Do not shake  the medicine. Use  a new needle  and syringe each time you inject  your medicine. 
• If you use the prefilled syringe, make sure  you know how  to use the needle guard. After giving an injection, slide the needle guard forward over the needle until  you hear a "click." The needle guard will safely cover the used needle.
• Each syringe  or vial of medicine is good  for only one dose. After using one dose  of medicine, discard (throw away)  the syringe or vial and any leftover medicine. Do not save unused  medicine from an opened vial or syringe. 

• It  is important  that you receive each dose  of this medicine according  to schedule. Call  your doctor, pharmacist, treatment clinic,  or home health caregiver  for instructions if you miss a dose. 

• If you store  this medicine at home, keep it  in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.Leave the medicine  in the carton until you are ready to use  it. If you accidentally freeze the medicine, let  it thaw out in the refrigerator before  you use it. If you accidentally  freeze the medicine  a second time, do not use it. 
• You  may let the medicine warm up to  room temperature before you use it. The medicine can stay out of the refrigerator  for up to 24 hours. Discard  any medicine that has been out of the refrigerator for more than 24 hours. 
• Ask  your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver  about the best way to dispose  of any leftover medicine, containers, and other supplies. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed. 
• Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets. 
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share  your medicine with anyone. 
  

Drugs and Foods to Avoid 

Ask  your doctor  or pharmacist before using any  other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. 

• Make sure  your doctor knows if you are also using lithium.  Your doctor also needs  to know about all other cancer treatments you are using. 

Warnings While Using This Medicine 

• Make sure  your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have sickle cell disease. 
• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to rubber. The needle cover of the prefilled syringe contains dry natural rubber latex, which may cause an allergic reaction if you have  a latex allergy. 
• This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell  your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; swelling of the face, tongue,  and throat; trouble breathing; or chest pain after you receive  the injection. 
• Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while  you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments. 
• If  you think you  have an infection, tell  your doctor right away. Some signs of an infection are fever, chills, tiredness, weakness, or sore throat. 

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine 

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects: 

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing. 
• Blue lips or fingernails. 
• Change in how much or how often you urinate. 
• Chest pain. 
• Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat. 
• Fever.
• Lightheadedness or fainting. 
• Pain in your left side or shoulder, or feeling unusually full. 
• Red or dark brown urine. 
• Slow or shallow breathing, or coughing up blood. 
• Stomach pain. 
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet. 
• Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness. 
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. 

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor: 

• Bone, joint, or muscle pain. 
• Hair loss. 
• Headache.
• Mild nausea, vomiting. 
• Pain, redness, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle was placed. 
• Skin rash or itching.