Understanding Neupogen

August 07, 2018

Understanding Neupogen

Healthcare provider preparing to give woman shot in arm. Your doctor has prescribed the medication Neupogen for you. Neupogen increases the number of infection-fighting cells in your blood following a chemotherapy treatment. It is given by injection (a shot). Your doctor or pharmacist can give you information about getting the injections. This sheet will help you learn more about Neupogen and how it is given at home, or in a clinic or hospital.

What Neupogen can do for you

Improve your quality of life.
Make you less prone to infection.
Make it safe for you to be in close contact with people. And as a result, you can do more.
Prevent illness that could cause a delay in your treatment.

How it works

When you have a chemotherapy treatment, the number of infection-fighting cells in your blood is reduced.
As the number of cells decreases, you are less able to fight infection.
Neupogen works by helping these infection-fighting blood cells rebuild faster inside of your bones.

Coping with side effects

Common side effects are aching bones, joints, and muscles, and redness, swelling, or itching at the site of injection.
These symptoms can often be relieved with a heating pad and/or pain medications that don’t contain aspirin. Check with your doctor before you take anything for pain.
Rare side effects include headache, pain in the lower back or pelvis, skin rash or itching, and nausea. Report all side effects to your doctor.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

Possible signs of infection, such as fever, chills, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, or redness at the site of a wound or sore
Pain in the left upper stomach area or left shoulder area (this could be a sign of spleen enlargement, a rare side effect of neupogen treatment)
Shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness, swelling around the mouth or eyes, quick pulse, or sweating
Redness, swelling, or itching at the site of injection

Updated:

August 07, 2018

Sources:

Filgrastim: Drug Information, Up To Date

Reviewed By:

Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Image reviewed by StayWell art team.,LoCicero, Richard, MD