Neupogen injection side effects
Common Questions and Answers about Neupogen injection side effects
neupogen
The neupogen does not. I had no visable side effects from the neupogen although after I completed treatment and was still doing the Neup for a few weeks to bring up the whites, I noticed the side effects (bone aches). Masked by the INF and RIBA and the Procrit, who knew what was causing what?
One thing I was told about Neupogen by my hemotologist was to wait 24 hours after the INF or do it at least 24 hours before. NOT AT THE SAME TIME because the INF and NEUP counter act one another.
In general terms, white blood cells are known as leukocytes. White blood cells have several components; neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, esonophils and basophils. If hubby is on treatment the particular component that's getting the doc's attention is neutrophil, which can be affected by the drugs. The 'resuce' drug that is used is "Neupogen".
After tx was done and continuing the neupogen for an additional 3 weeks, the side effects became more obvious. I believe the Inf/Riba masked the sx making it difficult to separate. As much as I appreciate that neupogen allowed me to not require a dose reduction of interferon, I began to not look forward to the shots, shoving another drug into my body with unknown effects.
I had awful bone pain when I was on Neupogen. I've always contended for me, the side effects from Neupogen were as bad if not worse than those from antiviral therapy. It stimulates the colonies of white stem cells within the bone marrow causing the level of neutrophils in the blood to rise. It is common to have aching bones and joints for 2-3 days duration starting 1-2 days after the start of the injections.
It is a little more rare that people on treatment need shots of neupogen. Neupogen probably has some greater side effects in terms of flu type symptoms or bone pain, but, the odds of needing neupogen are far less than the odds of needing procrit.
When I was treating I lived on procrit - two shots a week (partially though because I had anemia going into treatment). I also had a history of low wbc counts going in and I only got maybe three shots of neupogen the entire treatment.
Docs invoke the use of Neupogen at at different levels. I found the use of Neup to be a non-event, no side effects. Others expereince bone pain and injection site soreness. It's much better to use Neupogen than to reduce the dose of the Peg. The stuff works quick, within a couple of days. If he needs it once, he'll probably need it on a continuing basis during treament.
I got a call from my doctor 3 months into my hep c treatment that I had no white blood cells and had to get a shot of neupogen immediately! I was on neupogen for 7 months, and I had all kinds of side effects from it, especially on my left upper back and shoulder (it felt as if maggots were gnawing at my bones). I had pains everywhere which made me have panic attacks that I was having a stroke, not the case. Every time I showed up at the doctor telling him I was dying he said I was fine.
My experience with Neupogen was 1 injection per week initally, then 2 and several times I was reduced to half dosage or skipped several weeks because my WBC was high. It's a balancing act and usually those on Neupogen require more blood draws than those who are not taking it.
I thought it was some nasty stuff. Caused bone pain and fevers but it kept me from being dose reduced or taken off treatment.
Week 11 I had to lower my dosage of pegasys and then stop treament when my Neutrophils went to 650 and total WBC 1200 I was taking a Neupogen injection every week since week 5 once a week (300mcgs) and was responding at first but WBC was not staying up the entire week. Doc fears I may need 2 shots a week and does not want to do that yet as he does not know what the long term effects could be if I need it for the next 40 weeks.
Sounds like your father is currently treating with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Side effects from treatment are anemia and low white blood cells which his doctor appears to be trying to manage. He may have received the blood transfusions because his hemoglobin (hgb) was dangerously low prior to receiving the epogen or they could have been giving him platelet transfusions to help increase platelets. Low platelets are another side effect of hepc treatment.
So the doc finally agreed to a neupogen shot, after many delayed shots of pegasys. I was supposed to do a shot tuesday, however got bloodwork done today and anc is 620, Doc says to take neupogen tonight (I did, the neupogen is 300mcg, im ~130lbs) and get more bloodwork done on thursday, and then he'll call friday with whether or not to take the shot or not. So here I am, waiting, again. Arggg!
Having a white count of 2.1 is NOT a reason to delay your interferon injection. Let me explain.
There are different types of white blood cells. NEUTROPHILS protect you against bacterial infections (like sinus, urine or wound infections). While LYMPHOCYTES protect you against viral infections. During treatment with interferon you want to watch the NEUTROPHILS.
So it doesn't matter what your total white cell count is as long as the NEUTROPHILS are okay.
You might want to do a bit more research on the timing of taking this injection It takes a few hours for the side effects to hit and by doing your injection just before bedtime the timing is you are feeling flu-like as you are waking in the morning.
As I understand it, if you adjust the timing and do it several hours before bed, the flu-like symptoms occur more while you are asleep.
There is good information on the page for Rebif, which is another interferon like betaseron -
http://www.
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