Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor
About Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor belongs to the class of medicine called hematopoietic agents. It is primarily used to treat neutropenia (decreased white blood cells) caused by cancer, bone marrow transplant, and in patients receiving chemotherapy. This can cause the body to be unable to fight off bacteria, which increases the risk of various infections.
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor contains Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which belongs to the class of hematopoietic growth factors. It works by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells that help fight infection.
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor may cause certain side effects such as anaemia, headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, fever, chills, bleeding, loss of appetite, and injection site reactions. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve over time. Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor will be administered by a trained healthcare doctor. Do not self-administer.
Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. Inform your doctor if you have any conditions like sickle cell anaemia, lung problems, cardiac disorders, and liver/kidney disease. This medicine is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers due to serious side effects. Follow the doctor's instructions carefully till completion of the treatment.
Uses of Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor
Medicinal Benefits
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is a Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, which is a white blood cell growth factor. It works by stimulating the bone marrow (the tissue where new blood cells are made) to produce more white blood cells that help fight infection. Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is used to improve white blood cells during cancer treatment (chemotherapy), bone marrow transplantation, and severe chronic neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor
- Anaemia (low red blood cell)
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Bleeding and bruising
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Back pain
- Injection site reactions
Drug Warnings
To treat your condition effectively, continue taking Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor for as long as your doctor has prescribed. Discontinue taking Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor and inform your doctor if you observe any allergic reactions. Also, inform your doctor if you are allergic to excipients such as dry natural rubber/latex in the needle cover on the prefilled syringe. Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor may cause splenic rupture, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and alveolar haemorrhage in some patients. Hence, inform your doctor if you have any conditions like sickle cell anaemia, lung problems, cardiac disorders, and liver/kidney disease before receiving Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. If you receive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant, do not use Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor within 24 hours before or 24 hours after you receive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant. Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor can be given safely to children only when prescribed. This medicine is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers due to serious side effects.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor may have interaction with other hematopoietic agents (pegfilgrastim), medicines used to treat cancer (altretamine, bendamustine, bevacizumab).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor as it may increase dizziness and side effects.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Inform your doctor if you have any history of liver/kidney disease, thrombocytopenia (low number of platelets in the blood), unusual bleeding or bruising liver dysfunction, sickle cell disease (red blood cells to become misshapen and break down).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is unknown whether Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor interacts with alcohol. Consult your doctor for more information.
Pregnancy
unsafeGranulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may cause embryo-fetal toxicity and harm your foetus. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. You should not become pregnant while you are receiving Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. Using effective birth control methods while on treatment is suggested.
Breast Feeding
unsafeGranulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor should not be taken if you are breastfeeding as it passes into breast milk and may harm your infant. Avoid nursing your child while on treatment with this medicine.
Driving
cautionAfter taking Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor, avoid driving or operating machines if you experience any symptoms that alter your ability to do so.
Liver
cautionIf you have liver problems, inform your doctor before receiving Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition or prescribe a suitable alternative.
Kidney
cautionIf you have kidney problems, inform your doctor before receiving Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor. Your doctor may adjust the dose based on your condition or prescribe a suitable alternative.
Children
safe if prescribedGranulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is used to treat children who are receiving chemotherapy or who suffer from severe low white blood cell count (neutropenia). The doctor will decide the dose of Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor based on the age, body weight and condition of your child. However, it is not recommended for use in children for the treatment of autoimmune neutropenia.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, as it helps you to recover quickly. A dietitian will help you to create a diet plan based on your health condition.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked food.
- Eat food rich in antioxidants such as berries, spinach, kidney beans, dark chocolate, etc.
- Foods containing flavonoids help in reducing inflammation. These include soy, berries, broccoli, grapes, and green tea.
- Limit alcohol consumption and quit smoking.
Special Advise
- Constantly monitoring of the number of blood cells in your blood, and your bone density level will be done while you are receiving treatment with Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor.
- Do not take any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while using Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Neutropenia: It is a condition in which the neutrophil count (a type of white blood cell) in the blood is decreased. White blood cells (neutrophils) protect the body from infections. Without enough neutrophils, the body cannot fight off bacteria, which increases the risk of many types of infections. It can be caused by diseases that damage the bone marrow like cancer chemotherapy, HIV or AIDS, infections or deficiencies in vitamins or minerals, such as vitamin B12, folate, or copper, and autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.
FAQs
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is used for the management and treatment of Neutropenia during Chemotherapy and Neutropenia after Bone marrow transplantation.
Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor contains Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor that stimulates the bone marrow to produce white blood cells. These cells protect the body against infections.
No, Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor is not recommended to patients with spleen disorder. It may cause your spleen to become enlarged, and it could rupture. If you experience pain in the left upper stomach/abdominal area or left shoulder, contact your doctor immediately.