Neulastim contains the active ingredient pegfilgrastim, and is used primarily as a supportive therapy for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. It is also known as Pegfilgrastim.
Neulastim is indicated to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anti-cancer drugs associated with a clinically significant incidence of febrile neutropenia
Neulastim is not a treatment for cancer, However it is used following chemotherapy to increase the number of white blood cells. It reduces your chance of developing infections that might require treatment with antibiotics and/or hospital stays. Neulastim is often referred to as a white blood cell booster and helps white blood cells to be more effective. It may also help to keep your chemotherapy treatment on schedule.
Neulastim is usually prescribed following chemotherapy to minimise the effect chemotherapy has on your white blood cells. This is called prophylactic treatment (to prevent) and your doctor may choose this if you are in one of the risk groups for neutropenia, that is, if it is deemed likely that chemotherapy will lower your white blood cells to unacceptable levels.
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