Filgrastim is used to prevent infections in people receiving chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants. This eMedTV segment discusses other uses, offers dosing precautions and tips, and explains what you should know before taking the drug.
Common side effects of filgrastim may include vomiting, high blood pressure, and bone pain. This page on the eMedTV site describes other common filgrastim side effects and lists potentially serious problems that require immediate medical attention.
Filgrastim is used for increasing neutrophil production to help the body fight off infections. This part of the eMedTV Web site offers more information on specific filgrastim uses, including a list of possible "off-label" uses for the drug.
The suggested filgrastim dose for preventing infections due to chemotherapy is 5 mcg per kg of weight daily. This eMedTV article also lists filgrastim dosing guidelines for bone marrow transplants, stem cell collection, and severe chronic neutropenia.
Medicines that may cause drug interactions with filgrastim include lithium and chemotherapy medications. This eMedTV resource describes what may happen when filgrastim interacts with these drugs and explains how to help prevent these interactions.
Some people taking filgrastim long-term for severe chronic neutropenia have developed leukemia. This eMedTV article offers more precautions and warnings with filgrastim, including a list of other possible side effects or complications that may occur.
