Patient Information for Neulasta

Neulasta is the brand name of the injectable prescription medication pegfilgrastim. Doctors prescribe Neulasta to people undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer who are suffering from low white blood cell counts due to treatment.

Function

• Neulasta is a colony-stimulating factor, meaning it acts upon new cells in your body, causing them to grow more quickly and develop into white blood cells.

Effects

• By increasing your white blood cell counts, Neulasta makes you less susceptible to bacterial, viral and fungal infections and allows you to continue with your cancer treatment.

Time Frame

• One Neulasta injection is typically given at least 24 hours after a chemotherapy treatment. You will not receive another injection until your next treatment, and you must wait 14 days after receiving your Neulasta injection before receiving more chemotherapy.

Risks

• Common side effects of Neulasta include abdominal or stomach pain, changes in taste, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, headaches, joint pain, loss of appetite, insomnia, weakness, nausea and vomiting, reports the Mayo Clinic. The most serious side effect associated with Neulasta is rupture of the spleen, which has been fatal in some patients, according to RxList.

Considerations

• Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, doctors restrict the use of Neulasta in pregnant women to situations where there is no safe alternative to treatment. If you have a history of leukemia or other bone marrow cancers, liver problems, peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization, sepsis or sickle-cell anemia, it may not be safe for you to be treated with Neulasta, warns the Mayo Clinic.