Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under your skin of your upper arm, upper buttock, stomach, or thigh. You or your caregiver may be trained to prepare and inject this medicine at home. Be sure that you understand how to use it.

If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, or bruised, or have scars or stretch marks.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about:

  • How to prepare the injection.
  • The proper use of disposable syringes.
  • How to give the injection.
  • How long the injection can be stored at home.

This medicine is available in 2 forms: a vial (glass container) or a prefilled syringe. Your doctor will tell you which dosage form you should use.

Allow the medicine to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before you inject it. Do not use it if the liquid in the syringe or vial has changed color, looks cloudy, or if you see particles in it. Do not shake the syringe or vial.

Do not use this medicine within 24 hours before or after receiving chemotherapy.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injectable dosage form (prefilled syringe or vial):
    • For neutropenia:
      • Adults and children 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 5 microgram per kilogram (mcg/kg) of body weight injected under the skin per day.
      • Children younger than 1 month of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Keep this medicine in its original container until you are ready to use it. You may store it at room temperature for up to 5 days, and if not used, can be returned to the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine that has been left at room temperature for more than 5 days.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.