What is this medication for?
Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells which help your body fight infection. This will help to reduce your chance of getting an infection after chemotherapy.
This medication is also used for helping to move blood cells out of the bone marrow and into the blood stream. Your stem cells will then be collected.
How should I take or use this medication?
Filgrastim is injected into the:
- The fatty tissue beneath the skin of your abdomen (avoiding the area within 2 inches of the navel), the front middle thigh, or the upper outer region of the buttocks.
- It is commonly injected at least 24 hours after the completion of your chemotherapy. However, sometimes there may be varying dosing schedules, please follow the dosage schedule accordingly.
- Take the syringe out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before use and allow it to reach room temperature before injecting. Do not shake the syringe.
- Check the syringe for any particles or discolouration before injecting. Do not use the injection if these are present.
- Rotate the injection site as needed. Do not inject into areas that are tender, red, bruised, hardened, scaly, or scarred, or sites with stretch marks.
What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?
If you miss a dose, please contact your doctor immediately.
What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?
- Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
- Inform your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant.
- You should not breastfeed while on this medication.
What are some common side effects of this medication?
The table below will list some of the common side effects as well as the rare but serious side effects.
| Side Effect | Management |
|---|---|
| Mild to moderate bone pain |
|
| Flu-like symptoms e.g. fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint aches |
|
| Headaches |
|
| Skin rash |
|
| Swelling, bruising, tenderness and redness of the skin at the injection site |
|
| Pain in left upper stomach area or your left shoulder |
|
Symptoms of drug allergy including one or more of the following:
|
|
How should I store this medication?
Store in the refrigerator between 2-8°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light. Discard any syringe which has been left at room temperature for longer than 24 hours.
How do I throw away this medication safely?
Dispose the needle in a hard, puncture-proof container. Do not attempt to re-cap the needle after use. Do not throw the exposed needle directly into the dustbin or leave it lying about.
Disclaimer
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side-effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side-effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (NHG Health, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Contributed By
- Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore