Filgrastim: Side Effects, Uses & Monitoring
Facts extracted from current FDA product labeling for Filgrastim. Educational only — not medical advice.
Reported adverse reactions
| Reaction | Highest frequency reported* |
|---|---|
| Nausea/vomiting | 64% |
| Neutropenic fever | 35% |
| Alopecia | 27% |
| Diarrhea | 23% |
| Skeletal pain | 22% |
| Mucositis | 20% |
| Fatigue | 16% |
| Fever | 12% |
| Anorexia | 11% |
| Dyspnea | 11% |
| Stomatitis | 10% |
| Constipation | 10% |
| Headache | 9% |
| Skin rash | 9% |
| Sore throat | 9% |
| Cough | 8% |
| Generalized weakness | 7% |
| Pain (unspecified) | 7% |
| Chest pain | 6% |
*Highest percentage across placebo-controlled trial tables summarized in current labeling.
Labeled uses
Cancer Patients Receiving Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy NEUPOGEN® is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection‚ as manifested by febrile neutropenia‚ in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anti-cancer drugs associated with a significant incidence of severe neutropenia with fever (see CLINICAL EXPERIENCE ). A complete blood count (CBC) and platelet count should be obtained prior to chemotherapy‚ and twice per week (see LABORATORY MONITORING ) during NEUPOGEN® therapy to avoid leukocytosis and to monitor the neutrophil count. In phase 3 clinical studies‚ NEUPOGEN® therapy was discontinued when the ANC was ≥ 10‚000/mm3 after the expected chemotherapy-induced nadir. Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Receiving Induction or Consolidation Chemotherapy NEUPOGEN® is indicated for reducing the time to neutrophil recovery and the duration of fever, following induction or consolidation chemotherapy treatment of adults with AML. Cancer Patients Receiving Bone Marrow Transplant NEUPOGEN® is indicated to reduce the duration of neutropenia and neutropenia-related clinical sequelae‚ eg‚ febrile neutropenia‚ in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies undergoing m…
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