Filigrastim

Neupogen (Filgrastim) is used to treat neutropenia, which is a decreased quantity of white blood cells in the body. Neupogen assists in the growth of a type of white blood cell called neutrophils by stimulating the colonies of white stem cells within the bone marrow. By increasing the number of white blood cells in your body it helps your body fight infections. White blood cells are found within the bone marrow and grow fairly rapidly, therefore they are often damaged by chemotherapy.

To determine whether you have a low white blood cell count, your physician will check you blood work, also called CBC (Complete Blood Count) or WBC known as White Blood Count. The normal number of neutrophil is between 2500-5000. A low neutrophil count is below 1000 and this is known as neutropenia

Neulasta and neupogen are similar molecules.

The primary difference is that Neulasta has a PEG (polyehtylene glycol) incorporated in its composition, thereby lengthening its duration of action. As a result, Neulasta is administered on a less frequent schedule. It is typically injected once for each cycle of high-dose chemotherapy 24 hours after chemo and no sooner than 14 days before your next chemo treatment.

Neupogen is typically injected on a daily basis until your neutrophil counts come back to normal levels. Neupogen may work fine with just weekly chemo treatments or it may be given as often as you need between chemo cycles.

These medications are prescribed for breast cancer patients who are at risk of decreased number of neutrophils (type of white blood cell) from the cancer or specific treatment

Common side effects of Neupogen (Filigrastim) are:
- redness, swelling, bruising, itching or a lump in the location where the medication was injected
- bone, joint, or muscle pain
- headache
- nosebleeds

The following potential serious side effects should be reported to your physician: fever or chills, unhealed sores, swelling of extremities, difficulty breathing such as shortness of breath or trouble breathing, or chest pain and palpitations.