What Is Neulasta? (Pegfilgrastim) | HealthInfi

What is Neulasta?

Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) can lower your risk of infection during chemotherapy, but it can cause a significant amount of bone pain. This medication reduces the risk of infection in people with tumors who are at risk of developing infections due to chemotherapy.

Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a man-made form of a protein that stimulates the growth of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection. Neulasta is used to prevent neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by receiving chemotherapy.

Neulasta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

Before using Neulasta, tell your doctor if you have sickle cell disorder, chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplasia (also called “preleukemia”), or if you are allergic to latex. Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Do not self-inject Neulasta if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Neulasta is usually given once per chemotherapy cycle. Neulasta should not be given within 14 days before or 24 hours after you receive chemotherapy.

How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

Colony-Stimulating Factors:In the body’s bone marrow (the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones) blood cells are produced.  There are three major types of blood cells; white blood cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove waste products from organs and tissues; and platelets, which enable the blood to clot.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy can effect these cells which put a person at risk for developing infections, anemia and bleeding problems.  Colony-stimulating factors are substances that stimulate the production of blood cells and promote their ability to function.

They do not directly affect tumors but through their role in stimulating blood cells they can be helpful as support of the persons immune system during cancer treatment.

Pegfilgrastim is a growth factor that stimulates the production, maturation and activation of neutrophils.  Pegfilgrastim also stimulates the release of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) from the bone marrow.  In patients receiving chemotherapy, pegfilgrastim can accelerate the recovery of neutrophils, reducing the neutropenic phase (the time in which people are susceptible to infections).  Pegfilgrastim is a long-acting version of filgrastim.

Pegfilgrastim is filgrastim with a substance called polyethylene glycol (PEG) attached to it.  The attachment process is called pegylation, and is used to allow active substances (the filgrastim) to stay in the body longer before they are broken down and eliminated.

Pegfilgrastim belongs to the family of medications known as granulocyte colony stimulating factors (G-CSF). Pegfilgrastim helps the bone marrow produce white blood cells which help the body fight infection.

Pegfilgrastim is used to treat neutropenia (low counts of a certain type of white blood cell known as neutrophils) for people who have certain types of cancer and are receiving a type of chemotherapy that slows down white blood cell production.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.Read More