Neulasta

Before taking this medicine

Do not use Neulasta if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to pegfilgrastim or filgrastim, including anaphylaxis. Conditions requiring caution include sickle cell disease, because potentially fatal sickle cell crises can occur; kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis); and low platelet counts, which require monitoring. Patients with breast or lung cancer receiving Neulasta alongside chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy should be monitored for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Seek urgent medical attention for left upper abdominal or shoulder pain, which may indicate an enlarged or ruptured spleen; fever or breathing difficulties, which need assessment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); or signs of a serious allergic reaction. Splenic rupture can be fatal. Neulasta must be permanently stopped after a serious allergic reaction and stopped if ARDS or a sickle cell crisis occurs, or if inflammation of large or medium-sized arteries is suspected.