Neulasta (Pegfilgrastim) for Leukemia

Overview
Neulasta is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower the risk of developing infections for people with certain types of cancer after receiving chemotherapy or some types of radiation. Neulasta is also known by its drug name, Pegfilgrastim. Pegfilgrastim is a longer-acting version of filgrastim, the active ingredient in Neupogen.

Neulasta is a colony-stimulating factor, or substance that induces the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells. Neulasta is believed to work by stimulating the production of white blood cells, which fight infection and fever.

How do I take it?
Neulasta is administered as a subcutaneous injection once during each chemotherapy cycle. Neulasta is administered twice, with injections one week apart, after receiving radiation.

Neulasta comes in prefilled syringe and on-body injector forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Neulasta lists common side effects including bone pain and pain in the extremities.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Neulasta can include ruptured spleen, sickle-cell crisis, kidney infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and severe allergic reactions.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Neulasta — Amgen
https://www.neulasta.com