Pegfilgrastim

Uses

Precaution

Side Effects

Handling

Uses

What is Pegfilgrastim for?

This medication is also known as Pegfilgrastim.
Pegfilgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) that stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells which help your body fight infection. This will help to reduce your chance of getting an infection after chemotherapy.

How should I take or use Pegfilgrastim?

Pegfilgrastim is injected into the:

The fatty tissue beneath the skin of your abdomen (avoiding the area within 2 inches of the navel), the front middle thigh, or the upper outer region of the buttocks.
It is commonly injected at least 24 hours after the completion of your chemotherapy. However, sometimes there may be varying dosing schedules, please follow the dosage schedule accordingly.
Take the syringe out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before use and allow it to reach room temperature before injecting. Do not shake the syringe.
Check the syringe for any particles or discolouration before injecting. Do not use the injection if these are present.
Rotate the injection site as needed. Do not inject into areas that are tender, red, bruised, hardened, scaly, or scarred, or sites with stretch marks.

What should I do if I forget to take or use Pegfilgrastim?

If you miss a dose, please contact your doctor immediately.

Precaution

What precautions should I take when taking or using Pegfilgrastim?

Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
Inform your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant.
You should not breastfeed while on this medication.

Side Effects

What are some common side effects of Pegfilgrastim?

The table below will list some of the common side effects as well as the rare but serious side effects.

Side Effect	Management
Mild to moderate bone pain	You can take Paracetamol to help with your bone pain.
Flu-like symptoms e.g. fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint aches	You can take Paracetamol to help with muscle and joint aches. Proceed to the A&E department if fever exceeds 38°C or if there are other signs of infection such as mouth sores or sore throat. Do not take Paracetamol as this can mask the signs of infection and delay potential treatment for it
Headaches	Mild pain can be relieved by taking Paracetamol. Do not take Paracetamol if you are having a fever at the same time. Inform your doctor if your headaches do not get better or if you are also vomiting, experiencing confusion or visual disturbances (an event that affects the person's ability to see clearly and comfortably).
Skin rash	Avoid hot showers. Use cool or lukewarm water to bathe. Apply a moisturizer to areas with dry skin.
Swelling, bruising, tenderness and redness of the skin at the injection site	Apply cool compress at the injection site for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day. Inform your doctor if the symptoms do not go away.
Pain in left upper stomach area or your left shoulder	Proceed to the A&E department immediately if you experience this.
Symptoms of drug allergy including one or more of the following: Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue Difficulty in breathing Itchy skin rashes over your whole body	Inform your doctor if you experience eye pain, swelling, redness, blurred vision, and/or sensitivity to light or other changes.

Handling

How should I store Pegfilgrastim?

Store in the refrigerator between 2-8°C. Do not freeze. Protect from light. Discard any syringe which has been left at room temperature for more than 48 hours.

How do I throw away Pegfilgrastim safely?

Dispose the needle in a hard, puncture-proof container. Do not attempt to re-cap the needle after use. Do not throw the exposed needle directly into the dustbin or leave it lying about.

Disclaimers

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side-effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side-effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (NHG Health, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.