Description
Efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw injection is used to treat neutropenia (low white blood cells) that is caused by cancer medicines. It is a synthetic (man-made) form of a substance that is naturally produced in your body called a colony stimulating factor. Efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw helps the bone marrow to make new white blood cells.
When certain cancer medicines are used to fight cancer cells, they also affect the white blood cells that fight infections. Efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw is used to lower the risk of getting an infection while you are being treated with cancer medicines.
This medicine is to be given only by or under the supervision of a doctor.
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of efbemalenograstim alfa-vuxw injection in the elderly.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Allergy to latex or
- Bone marrow cancer or other bone marrow problems or
- Glomerulonephritis (kidney disease) or
- Leukocytosis (high white blood cell count) or
- Lung disease or breathing problems or
- Sickle cell disease (red blood cell disease) or
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
Proper Use
A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine. It is given as a shot under the skin of your upper arm, stomach, or thigh.
This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
You should not receive this medicine within 14 days before and less than 24 hours after receiving chemotherapy.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Check with your doctor right away at the first sign of an infection, including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
Check with your doctor right away if you are having pain in the upper left part of your stomach or at the tip of the left shoulder. This could be a symptom of a serious side effect with the spleen.
Check with your doctor right away if you develop a fever, chest pain or tightness, or trouble breathing. These could be symptoms of a serious lung condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, skin rash, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause kidney problems (eg, glomerulonephritis). Call your doctor right away if you have swelling in your 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 have 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.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests (eg, bone tests) may be affected by this medicine.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Black, tarry stools
- bleeding gums
- blood in the urine or stools
- pale skin
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- trouble breathing
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
- Blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- bone pain
- chest pain or tightness
- chills
- cloudy urine
- cough or hoarseness
- difficulty swallowing
- dizziness
- eye pain
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- general feeling of illness
- headache
- hives, itching, skin rash
- lower back or side pain
- pain spreading to the left shoulder
- painful or difficult urination
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- sore throat
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- stomach pain
- swelling of the face, feet, or lower legs
- swollen glands
- weight gain
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Nausea
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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