Medicine Overview of Filgen 30MIU/.5ml Injection
Introduction
Filgen is used to prevent infections after chemotherapy. It is a growth factor that stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. These cells protect the body against infections. Filgen is given as an injection by a qualified medical professional. You should continue to take as long as your doctor advises for it. The duration of treatment varies according to your need and response to treatment. You might be asked for regular tests done to check the number of blood cells in your blood and your bone density level while you are taking this medicine. The most common side
Uses of Filgen
- Infections after chemotherapy
Side effects of Filgen
Common
- Bone pain
- Weakness
- Headache
- Rash
- Nausea
- Increased lactate dehydrogenase level in blood
- Vomiting
- Increased uric acid level in blood
- Oropharyngeal pain
- Hair loss
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Cough
- Breathing problems
How to use Filgen
Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.
How Filgen works
Filgen is a growth factor that stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. These cells protect the body against infections. .
What if you forget to take Filgen?
If you miss a dose of Filgen, please consult your doctor.
Quick Tips
-
Filgen reduces the risk of infection in people treated with chemotherapy.
-
It is usually given as a daily injection into the tissue just under the skin or into the vein.
-
You will normally receive your first dose at least 24 hours after your chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant.
-
Store it in the refrigerator, protect it from light, and don’t shake it.
-
For a more comfortable injection, leave the syringe at room temperature for 30 minutes before using it.
-
Pain or redness in the area of injection is common. Let your doctor know if you notice a lump, swelling, or bruising that doesn’t go away.
-
Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration as Filgen may cause dizziness.
-
Your doctor may get regular tests done to monitor the number of blood cells in your blood, and your bone density level while you are receiving treatment with this medicine.
-
Stop taking Filgen and inform your doctor if you have a fever, shortness of breath, fast rate of breathing or trouble breathing.
Brief Description
Indication
Myelosuppressive chemotherapy, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, receiving induction or consolidation chemotherapy, Peripheral blood progenitor cell collection and therapy, Severe Neutropenia, Bone marrow transplantation, HIV infection.
Administration
IV Preparation
Vials may be diluted in D5W to >15 mcg/mL for infusion
5-15 mcg/mL dilution: Protect from adsorption to plastic materials by the addition of human albumin to a final concentration of 2 mg/mL
Do not dilute with saline at any time, because the product may precipitate
Vials may be diluted in D5W to >15 mcg/mL for infusion
5-15 mcg/mL dilution: Protect from adsorption to plastic materials by the addition of human albumin to a final concentration of 2 mg/mL
Do not dilute with saline at any time, because the product may precipitate
IV Administration
Short IV infusion over 15-30 min, OR
Continuous IV infusion
SC Administration
Administer undiluted by SC in the outer area of upper arms, abdomen, thighs, or upper outer areas of the buttock
Adult Dose
Parenteral Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia Adult: 5 mcg/kg daily as a single daily SC inj, as a continuous IV or SC infusion, or as a daily IV infusion over 15-30 minutes, starting not <24 hr after the last dose of antineoplastic. Continue treatment until neutrophil count has stabilised within the normal range which may take up to 14 days or more. Bone marrow transplantation Adult: 10 mcg/kg daily by IV infusion over 30 min or 4 hr or continuous IV or SC infusion over 24 hr. Adjust according to response. Subcutaneous Mobilisation of peripheral blood progenitor cells for autologous peripheral blood stem
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity to E. coli derived proteins, Filgrastim or any component of the product. Myeloid malignancies. Not to be used within 24 hr of cytotoxic chemotherapy admin due to the sensitivity of rapidly dividing myeloid cells. Severe congenital neutropaenia (Kostman’s syndrome) with abnormal cytogenetics.
Mode of Action
Filgrastim is a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor which binds to cell surface receptors on haemetopoietic cells thus stimulating the development of granulocytes to increase their migration and cytotoxicity.
Precaution
Filgrastim should not be administered within 24 hours before and after chemotherapy. Premalignant or malignant myeloid condition; sickle-cell disease; osteoporotic bone disease; withdraw treatment if there are signs of pulmonary infiltrates. Fluid retention or heart failure. Monitor CBC and platelet count during therapy. Monitor bone density in patients with osteoporosis (long-term treatment). Regular morphological and cytogenic bone-marrow examinations in severe congenital neutropenia. Pregnancy and lactation.
Lactation: excretion in milk unknown; use with caution
Side Effect
>10%
Nausea (57%),Vomiting (57%),Bone pain (22%-33%),Alopecia (18%),Diarrhea (14%),Fever (12%),Fatigue (11%)
Nausea (57%),Vomiting (57%),Bone pain (22%-33%),Alopecia (18%),Diarrhea (14%),Fever (12%),Fatigue (11%)
1-10%
Headache,Anorexia,Chest pain,Cough,Dyspnea,Constipation,Stomatitis,Sore throat,Rash
Frequency Not Defined
Elevated uric acid,Elevated lactate dehydrogenase,Elevated alkaline phosphatase
Potentially Fatal: Pulmonary infiltrates leading to resp failure or acute resp distress syndrome.
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy Available data from published studies, including several observational studies of pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to filgrastim products and those who were unexposed, have not established an association with use during pregnancy and major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes Reports in scientific literature have described transplacental passage of drug in pregnant women when administered less than or equal to 30 hours prior to preterm delivery (less than or equal to 30 weeks’ gestation) In animal reproduction studies, effects of filgrastim on prenatal development have been studied in rats and rabbits; no malformations were observed in
Interaction
Myelosuppressive antineoplastic agents. Drugs which may potentiate the release of neutrophils e.g. lithium.
Reviews
Clear filtersThere are no reviews yet.