About your treatment  

Your doctor has ordered sargramostim to help your bone marrow make new white blood cells. The drug will be either given subcutaneously (beneath your skin) or added to an intravenous fluid that will drip through a needle or catheter placed in your vein for 2 hours once a day for 14-21 days.

Sargramostim is a synthetic version of substances naturally produced by your body. It helps you to fight infections so you can receive your next chemotherapy cycle as scheduled.

Your health care provider (doctor, nurse, or pharmacist) may measure the effectiveness and side effects of your treatment using laboratory tests and physical examinations. It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. The length of treatment depends on how you respond to the medication.

Storing your medication  

• Your health care provider probably will give you a several-day supply of sargramostim at a time. Your health care provider may give you directions on how to prepare each dose. Store the vials in the refrigerator.
• Take your next dose from the refrigerator 1 hour before using it; place it in a clean, dry area to allow it to warm to room temperature.
• Avoid shaking the vial. Use a vial only once, and do not reenter a needle into a vial. Discard unused portions and outdated medication.
• Do not allow sargramostim to freeze.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.

Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

In case of emergency/overdose  

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Signs of infection  

If you are receiving sargramostim in your vein or under your skin, you need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein or skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:

• tenderness
• warmth
• irritation
• drainage
• redness
• swelling
• pain

Brand names  

Other names