Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check you or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

If you or your child have left upper stomach pain or shoulder tip pain, contact your doctor right away. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect with the spleen.

Check with your doctor right away at the first sign of any infection such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or redness, swelling, or pain around a cut or sore.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child develop a fever, chest pain or tightness, fast breathing, or trouble breathing. These could be symptoms of a serious lung condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, or chest pain after you receive the medicine.

You should not use this medicine for 14 days before and up to 24 hours after you receive cancer medicines.

If you are receiving this medicine via the On-body Injector (OBI) for Neulasta®:

  • Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to acrylic adhesives.
  • Keep the injector at least 4 inches away from electrical equipment, such as cell or cordless phones, microwaves, and other appliances.
  • Do not use hot tubs or saunas while you are wearing the injector. Do not expose the injector to sunlight. Do not sleep on the injector. Call your doctor if the injector comes off before or during a dose.
  • Keep the injector dry at least 3 hours before the dose is scheduled to start. This will help you notice any leaks. Call your doctor if the bandage becomes wet or the medicine is dripping.
  • The injector is programmed to deliver your dose about 27 hours after it is placed on your skin. It will take about 45 minutes for the dose to be given. Avoid activities, such as driving and traveling, that may interfere with the injector 1 hour before the dose starts, while it is being given, and for at least 1 hour afterward. You must have a caregiver nearby for your first dose.
  • You should avoid airport X-ray scans and request a manual pat down instead.
  • You should avoid sleeping on the OBI for Neulasta® or applying pressure on the OBI for Neulasta®. Doing so may prevent the OBI from working properly.
  • You should avoid getting body lotions, creams, oils, and cleaning agents near the OBI for Neulasta® as these products may loosen the adhesive that holds the OBI into your body.

This medicine may cause kidney problems. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has swelling in the face or ankles, blood in the urine, or decrease in how much or how often you urinate.

This medicine lowers the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed more easily. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child has black or tarry stools, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stools, pinpoint red spots on the skin, or unusual bleeding or bruising after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause a condition called capillary leak syndrome. It can cause fluid to leak from the blood vessels into your body's tissues. Call your doctor right away if you have swelling or puffiness and are urinating less often, trouble breathing, feeling of fullness, dizziness, or feeling faint.

This medicine may cause blood or bone marrow problems (eg, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia) in patients with breast or lung cancer. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, cough or hoarseness, fever, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause aortitis (inflammation of the aorta, the largest artery in the body). Check with your doctor right away if you have fever, stomach pain, unusual tiredness or weakness, or back pain.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests (eg, bone tests).