About pegfilgrastim
Long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Used for
- Reduces infection risk from chemotherapy-induced low white blood cell counts
- Treats radiation exposure that damages blood-forming cells
Usual adult dose
Usually one injection per chemotherapy cycle, at least 24 hours after chemotherapy; radiation dosing follows specialist protocols.
Usual dose in children
For children weighing 45 kg or more, usually one injection per chemotherapy cycle, at least 24 hours after chemotherapy. Lower-weight children need weight-based dosing.
Common side effects
- Bone or muscle pain
- Pain in arms or legs
- Injection-site reactions
- Headache
Important warnings
- Rarely causes serious allergic reactions or spleen rupture.
- Seek urgent assessment for left upper abdominal or shoulder pain, breathing problems, or severe swelling.
- May cause acute respiratory distress, kidney inflammation, or aortitis.
- Not given within 14 days before or 24 hours after chemotherapy.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited; use only when clearly needed after weighing potential risks.
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether pegfilgrastim passes into breast milk; discuss breastfeeding timing with a clinician.
Interactions
- Chemotherapy can affect treatment timing; pegfilgrastim is given after chemotherapy.
- Lithium may increase white blood cell production; monitoring may be needed.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.