Indications
Cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy: Reduces the incidence of infection, shown by febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies who are receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs that carry a significant risk of severe neutropenia with fever. Cancer patients undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia: Reduces the time to neutrophil recovery and the duration of fever following induction or consolidation chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplantation (BMT): Reduces the duration of neutropenia and neutropenia related complications, such as febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies undergoing myeloablative chemotherapy followed by bone marrow transplantation. Patients with severe chronic neutropenia: Reduces the incidence and duration of neutropenia related effects, such as fever, infection or oropharyngeal ulcers, in symptomatic patients with congenital neutropenia, cyclic neutropenia or idiopathic neutropenia. Patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation: Increases survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation, that is, the hematopoietic syndrome of acute radiation syndrome. Patients with HIV infection: Used for the prevention and treatment of persistent neutropenia in patients with advanced HIV infection, to reduce the risk of bacterial infections when other options for managing neutropenia are not suitable.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Filgrastim is a 175 amino acid human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) produced using recombinant DNA technology. It regulates neutrophil production in the bone marrow and influences the proliferation and differentiation of neutrophil progenitor cells. It also improves phagocytic ability, primes the cellular metabolism linked to respiratory burst, supports antibody-dependent killing, and increases the expression of certain cell surface antigens.
Filgrastim's pharmacokinetics are nonlinear: its clearance depends on both drug concentration and neutrophil count. It is cleared by the kidney, reaches peak plasma levels (tmax) within 2 to 8 hours, and has an absolute bioavailability of 60-70% after subcutaneous administration.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy Category C. Well-controlled studies in pregnant women are lacking, so the risks to a developing baby are not fully established. It is also not known whether filgrastim passes into human breast milk. Since many medicines do pass into breast milk, it should be used cautiously by mothers who are breastfeeding.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage Reference
⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.