You are going to a website that contains clinical information and was created specifically for healthcare professionals. If you are not a healthcare professional, and would like to return to the consumer site, please click the RETURN link below.

Continue

x

Indications

Patients with cancer receiving strong chemotherapy

NEUPOGEN® is a prescription medicine used to help reduce the chance of infection due to a low white blood cell count, in people with certain types of cancer (non-myeloid) who receive anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy) that can cause fever and a low blood cell count. Read More

Patient Product Information Prescribing Information Indications Healthcare Professionals NEUPOGEN® Uses (All Indications)

How chemotherapy affects your body

Chemotherapy can weaken your natural defenses

icon_cancericon_cancer

Chemotherapy works by killing fast-growing cancer cells.

Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs can't tell the difference between cancer cells and fast-growing healthy cells, such as the bone marrow that produces blood cells. A possible side effect of some strong chemotherapy is a low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that is important in fighting infections.

icon_thermostaticon_thermostat

Having a low neutrophil count is a condition known as neutropenia.

Neutropenia can raise your risk of developing certain types of infections. A low white blood cell count with fever, also known as febrile neutropenia, can be a sign of a serious infection. You should call your doctor or nurse right away if you get a fever higher than 100.5°F (38°C).

icon_cycleicon_cycle

Infection may be a risk throughout your chemotherapy treatment.

Your treatment plan may consist of multiple chemotherapy cycles. The risk of infection is present in every one of them. Helping to reduce that risk should be an important consideration for you and your physician.

NEUPOGEN® can help during strong chemotherapy

icon_before_chemoicon_before_chemo

Before chemotherapy:

White blood cells are a key part of your natural defenses. At natural levels, white blood cells help protect your body against infection.

icon_during_chemoicon_during_chemo

With strong chemotherapy:

Strong chemotherapy can reduce your white blood cell count. This may put you at risk for certain types of infection.

icon_before_chemoicon_before_chemo

After NEUPOGEN®:

NEUPOGEN® can help stimulate the production of neutrophils, shortening the time and depth of a low white blood cell count after chemotherapy. This can help your body fight infection.

Steps to help reduce the risk of infection

Protect yourself during treatment with strong chemotherapy

Once you begin chemotherapy, the following steps and precautions can help you avoid getting an infection:

  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and plenty of water to avoid getting an infection from things that you touch
  • Use hand sanitizer if you have no access to soap and water
  • Ask your friends and family to wash their hands before coming into contact with you
  • Avoid people with colds or the flu
  • Avoid large crowds, which may include sick people
  • Bathe daily and dry your skin gently
  • Use lotion to help prevent cracks in your skin
  • Be careful to prevent cuts or scrapes, because they can provide entry points for infection
  • If you get a cut or scrape, cover it with a clean bandage until it heals
  • To prevent cuts when shaving, consider using an electric razor instead of a blade
  • Handle sharp objects with caution
  • Wear protective gloves when performing tasks that expose you to a risk of cuts or scrapes, such as gardening
  • Cook food thoroughly to kill infection-causing bacteria that may be in raw food

If you have any of the following signs of infection, report them to your doctor immediately:

  • Fever higher than 100.5°F (38°C)
  • Chills
  • Cough or sore throat
  • Severe constipation, loose stools, or diarrhea for more than 24 hours
  • Mouth ulcers or sores in the throat or around the rectum
  • Vomiting that continues 12 hours after treatment
  • Painful or frequent urination, or inability to urinate for more than 4 hours
  • Unusual vaginal discharge or itching
  • Redness, swelling, or soreness of the skin around an implanted port
  • Shortness of breath/chest pain
  • Irregular or rapid heartbeat
  • Blood in urine or stool
icon_questionsicon_questions

Don't know what
to ask your doctor?

See suggested questions
icon_rxicon_rx

Interested in less
frequent dosing?

Learn about a different
non‑daily medicine
icon_videoicon_video

How does
NEUPOGEN® work?

Watch a short video

Important Safety Information

Do not take NEUPOGEN® if you have had a serious allergic reaction to human G-CSFs such as (filgrastim) or (pegfilgrastim) products.

Before you take NEUPOGEN®, tell your healthcare provider all about your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a sickle cell disorder.
  • have kidney problems.
  • are receiving radiation therapy.
  • are allergic to latex. The needle cap on the prefilled syringe contains dry natural rubber (derived from latex). You should not give NEUPOGEN® using the prefilled syringe if you have latex allergies. Ask your healthcare provider about using the vial if you have latex allergies.
  • are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NEUPOGEN® will harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NEUPOGEN® passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How will I receive NEUPOGEN®?

  • NEUPOGEN® injections can be given by a healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion or under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider may decide subcutaneous injections can be given at home by you or your caregiver. If NEUPOGEN® is given at home, see the detailed "Instructions for Use" that comes with your NEUPOGEN® for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of NEUPOGEN®.
  • You and your caregiver should be shown how to prepare and inject NEUPOGEN® before you use it, by your healthcare provider.
  • Your healthcare provider will tell you how much NEUPOGEN® to inject and when to inject it. Do not change your dose or stop NEUPOGEN® unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • If you are receiving NEUPOGEN® because you are also receiving chemotherapy, your dose of NEUPOGEN® should be injected at least 24 hours before or 24 hours after your dose of chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to monitor your white blood cell count, and if necessary, adjust your NEUPOGEN dose.
  • If you are receiving NEUPOGEN because you have been suddenly (acutely) exposed to an amount of radiation that can affect your bone marrow (Acute Radiation Syndrome), you will need to have blood tests about every 3 days during treatment with NEUPOGEN to check your white blood cell count.
  • If you miss a dose of NEUPOGEN, talk to your healthcare provider about when you should be given your next dose.

What are possible side effects of NEUPOGEN®?

NEUPOGEN may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Spleen rupture. Your spleen may become enlarged and can rupture. A ruptured spleen can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in the left upper stomach area or left shoulder.
  • A serious lung problem called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have shortness of breath with or without a fever, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing.
  • Serious allergic reactions. NEUPOGEN® can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a rash over your whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast heart rate, and sweating. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using NEUPOGEN®, and call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away.
  • Sickle cell crises. You may have a serious sickle cell crisis, which could lead to death, if you have a sickle cell disorder and receive NEUPOGEN®. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of sickle cell crisis such as pain or difficulty breathing.
  • Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis). NEUPOGEN® can cause kidney injury. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
    • swelling of your face and ankles
    • blood in your urine or dark colored urine
    • you urinate less than usual
  • Capillary Leak Syndrome. NEUPOGEN® can cause fluid to leak from blood vessels into your body's tissues. This condition is called "Capillary Leak Syndrome" (CLS). CLS can quickly cause you to have symptoms that may become life-threatening. Get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
    • swelling or puffiness and are urinating less than usual
    • trouble breathing
    • swelling of your stomach-area and feeling of fullness
    • dizziness or feeling faint
    • a general feeling of tiredness
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NEUPOGEN® may increase the risk of developing a precancerous condition called MDS or a type of blood cancer called AML in people who were born with low white blood cell counts (congenital neutropenia). If you have breast cancer or lung cancer, when NEUPOGEN® is used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or with radiation therapy only, you may have an increased risk of developing MDS or AML. Symptoms of MDS and AML may include tiredness, fever, and easy bruising or bleeding. Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with NEUPOGEN®.
  • Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NEUPOGEN®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have unusual bleeding or bruising during treatment with NEUPOGEN®. This could be a sign of decreased platelet counts, which may reduce the ability of your blood to clot.
  • Increased white blood cell count (leukocytosis). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NEUPOGEN®.
  • Inflammation of your blood vessels (cutaneous vasculitis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop purple spots or redness of your skin.
  • Inflammation of the aorta (aortitis). Inflammation of the aorta (the large blood vessel which transports blood from the heart to the body) has been reported in patients who received NEUPOGEN®. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, feeling tired, and back pain. Call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.

The most common side effects experienced in patients receiving NEUPOGEN®:

  • Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: fever, pain, rash, cough, and shortness of breath
  • Patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy: pain, nose bleed, and rash
  • Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplant: rash
  • Patients who are having their own blood cells collected: bone pain, fever, and headache
  • Patients with severe chronic neutropenia: pain, decreased red blood cells, nose bleed, diarrhea, reduced sensation, and hair loss

These are not all the possible side effect of NEUPOGEN®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-332-1088.

Please see the NEUPOGEN® Patient Information for additional information.

Important Safety Information

Do not take NEUPOGEN® if you have had a serious allergic reaction to human G-CSFs such as (filgrastim) or (pegfilgrastim) products.

Before you take NEUPOGEN®, tell your healthcare provider all about your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have a sickle cell disorder.
  • have kidney problems.
  • are receiving radiation therapy.
  • are allergic to latex. The needle cap on the prefilled syringe contains dry natural rubber (derived from latex). You should not give NEUPOGEN® using the prefilled syringe if you have latex allergies. Ask your healthcare provider about using the vial if you have latex allergies.
  • are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NEUPOGEN® will harm your unborn baby.
  • are breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if NEUPOGEN® passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How will I receive NEUPOGEN®?

  • NEUPOGEN® injections can be given by a healthcare provider by intravenous (IV) infusion or under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider may decide subcutaneous injections can be given at home by you or your caregiver. If NEUPOGEN® is given at home, see the detailed "Instructions for Use" that comes with your NEUPOGEN® for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of NEUPOGEN®.
  • You and your caregiver should be shown how to prepare and inject NEUPOGEN® before you use it, by your healthcare provider.
  • Your healthcare provider will tell you how much NEUPOGEN® to inject and when to inject it. Do not change your dose or stop NEUPOGEN® unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
  • If you are receiving NEUPOGEN® because you are also receiving chemotherapy, your dose of NEUPOGEN® should be injected at least 24 hours before or 24 hours after your dose of chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to monitor your white blood cell count, and if necessary, adjust your NEUPOGEN dose.
  • If you are receiving NEUPOGEN because you have been suddenly (acutely) exposed to an amount of radiation that can affect your bone marrow (Acute Radiation Syndrome), you will need to have blood tests about every 3 days during treatment with NEUPOGEN to check your white blood cell count.
  • If you miss a dose of NEUPOGEN, talk to your healthcare provider about when you should be given your next dose.

What are possible side effects of NEUPOGEN®?

NEUPOGEN may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Spleen rupture. Your spleen may become enlarged and can rupture. A ruptured spleen can cause death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in the left upper stomach area or left shoulder.
  • A serious lung problem called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have shortness of breath with or without a fever, trouble breathing, or a fast rate of breathing.
  • Serious allergic reactions. NEUPOGEN® can cause serious allergic reactions. These reactions can cause a rash over your whole body, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast heart rate, and sweating. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using NEUPOGEN®, and call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away.
  • Sickle cell crises. You may have a serious sickle cell crisis, which could lead to death, if you have a sickle cell disorder and receive NEUPOGEN®. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of sickle cell crisis such as pain or difficulty breathing.
  • Kidney injury (glomerulonephritis). NEUPOGEN® can cause kidney injury. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
    • swelling of your face and ankles
    • blood in your urine or dark colored urine
    • you urinate less than usual
  • Capillary Leak Syndrome. NEUPOGEN® can cause fluid to leak from blood vessels into your body's tissues. This condition is called "Capillary Leak Syndrome" (CLS). CLS can quickly cause you to have symptoms that may become life-threatening. Get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms:
    • swelling or puffiness and are urinating less than usual
    • trouble breathing
    • swelling of your stomach-area and feeling of fullness
    • dizziness or feeling faint
    • a general feeling of tiredness
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NEUPOGEN® may increase the risk of developing a precancerous condition called MDS or a type of blood cancer called AML in people who were born with low white blood cell counts (congenital neutropenia). If you have breast cancer or lung cancer, when NEUPOGEN® is used with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or with radiation therapy only, you may have an increased risk of developing MDS or AML. Symptoms of MDS and AML may include tiredness, fever, and easy bruising or bleeding. Call your healthcare provider if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with NEUPOGEN®.
  • Decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NEUPOGEN®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have unusual bleeding or bruising during treatment with NEUPOGEN®. This could be a sign of decreased platelet counts, which may reduce the ability of your blood to clot.
  • Increased white blood cell count (leukocytosis). Your healthcare provider will check your blood during treatment with NEUPOGEN®.
  • Inflammation of your blood vessels (cutaneous vasculitis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop purple spots or redness of your skin.
  • Inflammation of the aorta (aortitis). Inflammation of the aorta (the large blood vessel which transports blood from the heart to the body) has been reported in patients who received NEUPOGEN. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, feeling tired, and back pain. Call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.

The most common side effects experienced in patients receiving NEUPOGEN:

  • Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy: fever, pain, rash, cough, and shortness of breath
  • Patients with acute myeloid leukemia receiving chemotherapy: pain, nose bleed, and rash
  • Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplant: rash
  • Patients who are having their own blood cells collected: bone pain, fever, and headache
  • Patients with severe chronic neutropenia: pain, decreased red blood cells, nose bleed, diarrhea, reduced sensation, and hair loss

These are not all the possible side effect of NEUPOGEN®. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-332-1088.

Please see the NEUPOGEN® Patient Information for additional information.