Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a drug used in the treatment of some types of cancer. Since chemotherapy can affect the production of white blood cells by lowering the level of production, Neulasta is used to help stimulate white blood cell production in the bone marrow. This is important because white blood cells are needed to help your body fight infections. Neulasta is a prescription drug that is most commonly administered via injection.
Common Serious Side Effects
Using Neulasta may induce serious side effects that require medical attention. The more common types of serious side effects reported by patients taking Neulasta include granuloctopenia, an unusually low level of granulocytes. Granulocytes are white blood cells that contain granules that essentially eat microorganisms to help fight infections. The symptoms of granuloctopenia include mouth spots that are white, mouth sores, ulcers, throat soreness, a fever and chills. Another common serious side effect of taking this medication is fever that may or may not be related to granuloctopenia.
Rare Serious Side Effects
Neulasta also can cause rarer serious side effects. Tell your physician immediately if you experience them. Rare serious side effects include a blueish tinge of the skin or lips, shortness of breath, chest tightness, pain in the shoulder or top part of the abdomen on the right side, difficulty breathing and wheezing. Other rare side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic, include skin that is abnormally warm, bleeding from the skin, abnormal weakness, sensations of cold or burning on the skin, infections and inflammation, abnormal tiredness, a cough and swallowing difficulties. There can be injection site problems such as tingling, swelling, stinging, ulceration or warmth. Dizziness, a rapid heart rate or tachycardia, skin flushing or hot flashes, welts or hives, facial swelling or itching, and swelling patches that appear like hives on the genitals, face, feet, eyelids, legs, lips, hands, tongue or in the throat can occur, as well.
Temporary Side Effects
Some people experience temporary side effects from Neulasta when their doctors first start injecting the drug. As treatment progresses, these side effects should subside. They include bodily weakness, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, indigestion, insomnia, belching, inflammation in the mouth, acidic stomach, nausea, taste changes, diarrhea or constipation, general fatigue, headaches, hair loss or hair thinning, appetite loss and weight loss. You might also experience pain in the joints and pain in the muscles. Discuss these side effects with your physician.
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