HAS YOUR DOCTOR RECOMMENDED NEUPOGEN^®?

*NEUPOGEN^® is administered by subcutaneous injection or IV infusion.

Indication

NEUPOGEN^® (filgrastim) is a prescription medication used to reduce the risk of infection in patients with some tumors, who are receiving strong chemotherapy that may cause severe neutropenia with fever.

Your doctor will do blood tests to monitor your blood cell counts before and during your treatment with NEUPOGEN^®.

Neutropenia is a condition where your body does not make enough neutrophils, a type of white blood cell important in the body’s fight against infection.

Important Safety Information

Do not take NEUPOGEN^® if you are allergic to NEUPOGEN^® or any of its ingredients. Do not take NEUPOGEN^® if you are allergic to other medicines made using the bacteria E coli. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.

NEUPOGEN^® may reduce your chance of getting an infection, but it does not prevent all infections. An infection can happen anytime you or your child’s neutrophil counts are low. Look for signs of infection, such as fever, chills, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, or redness, swelling, or pain around a cut or sore. If you or your child have any of these signs, contact your healthcare professional immediately.

NEUPOGEN^® can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a rash over the whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around the mouth or eyes, fast pulse, and sweating. If you start to have any of these symptoms, stop using NEUPOGEN^® and call your doctor or seek emergency care right away. If you have an allergic reaction during the injection of NEUPOGEN^®, stop the injection right away.

Your spleen may become enlarged and can rupture while taking NEUPOGEN^®. A ruptured spleen can cause death. The spleen is located in the upper left section of your stomach area. Call your doctor right away if you have pain in the left upper stomach area or left shoulder tip area. This pain could mean your spleen is enlarged or ruptured.

A serious lung problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been reported with NEUPOGEN^® use. Call your doctor or seek emergency care right away if you have shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing.

If you have a sickle cell disorder, make sure that you tell your doctor before you start taking NEUPOGEN^®. If you have a sickle cell crisis after getting NEUPOGEN^®, tell your doctor right away.

Talk to your doctor if you experience unusual bleeding or bruising while taking NEUPOGEN^®, as this could mean a decrease of platelets which reduces the ability of blood to clot.

The most common side effect you may experience is aching in the bones and muscles. This aching can usually be relieved by taking a non-aspirin pain reliever such as acetaminophen.

Some people experience redness, swelling, or itching at the site of injection. This may be an allergy to the ingredients in NEUPOGEN^®, or it may be a local reaction. If you notice any signs of a local reaction, call your doctor.

Reference: 1. NEUPOGEN^® (filgrastim) Prescribing Information, Amgen.

The last dose of NEUPOGEN^® (filgrastim) should be injected at least 24 hours before your next dose of chemotherapy. NEUPOGEN^® should be injected at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor or nurse.

You must always use the correct dose of NEUPOGEN^®. Too little may not protect you against infections, and too much may cause too many neutrophils to be in your blood. If you are giving someone else NEUPOGEN^® injections, it is important that you know how to inject, how much to inject, and how often to inject.

There is more information about NEUPOGEN^® in the Physician Package Insert. If you have any questions, you should talk to your doctor.