Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is a brand-name subcutaneous injection. It’s prescribed in certain adults or children with cancer to prevent infection or to treat radiation sickness. As with other drugs, Neulasta can cause side effects, such as bone, arm, or leg pain.

Neulasta can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Neulasta in clinical trials:

  • bone pain*
  • arm or leg pain

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with Neulasta use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Neulasta’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Neulasta include:

  • bone pain*
  • arm or leg pain

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Neulasta and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”

Neulasta may cause serious side effects. Although serious side effects from this medication aren’t common, they can occur. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Neulasta’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Neulasta, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • ruptured spleen, which may include symptoms such as:
    • left upper abdominal pain
    • shoulder pain
    • dizziness
  • a respiratory problem called acute respiratory distress syndrome, which may include symptoms such as:
    • fever
    • difficulty breathing
    • fatigue
  • a kidney problem called glomerulonephritis, which may include symptoms such as:
    • blood in your urine
    • protein in your urine
    • high blood pressure
  • low platelets (thrombocytopenia), which may include symptoms such as:
    • bleeding gums
    • bloody nose
    • bruising easily
  • high white blood cell levels (leukocytosis), which may include symptoms such as:
    • fever
    • rash
    • difficulty breathing
  • capillary leak syndrome, which may include symptoms such as:
    • low blood pressure
    • swelling
  • myelodysplastic syndrome in people with breast or lung cancer, which may include symptoms such as:
    • fatigue
    • frequent infections
    • heart palpitations
  • acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in people with breast or lung cancer, which may include symptoms such as:
    • fatigue
    • sweating more than usual
    • swollen lymph nodes
  • inflammation of the aorta*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Neulasta can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Neulasta on-body injector (OBI) contains an acrylic adhesive. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have an allergy to acrylic adhesives before using this form of the drug.

In addition, Neulasta prefilled syringes contain latex. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a latex allergy before using Neulasta prefilled syringes.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Neulasta your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Neulasta may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

When do Neulasta side effects begin?

This medication can begin to work as soon as you receive your dose. Therefore, it’s possible to experience side effects shortly after your dose of medication. You may experience side effects when Neulasta is at it’s peak (when the most amount of medication is in your body). This can occur within hours to a few days after your dose. However, it’s possible for side effects to still occur after this time.

If you have questions about what to expect from Neulasta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How can I manage Neulasta side effects?

If you experience side effects from Neulasta, talk with your doctor about the best ways to manage them. Your doctor will be able to recommend treatment options for you. For example, if you experience arm or leg pain, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil and others). To help prevent bone pain, the over-the-counter antihistamine loratadine (Claritin) may be useful.

If you have side effects that are severe or bothersome to you, your doctor or pharmacist can help you to personalize a treatment plan and alleviate those side effects that you’re experiencing. If you have additional questions about how to deal with Neulasta side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Neulasta cause long-term side effects to occur?

Studies of Neulasta did not look at how long side effects may last, so it’s not known for sure. But it is possible to develop long-term side effects from taking the medication. This means that it’s possible for certain side effects to last even after you’ve stopped using Neulasta. For example, a ruptured spleen or AML may be long-term.

If you have concerns about what to expect with Neulasta treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Neulasta may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Neulasta.

Bone pain

It’s possible to experience bone pain from Neulasta treatment. In fact, bone pain was the most common side effect that people receiving Neulasta reported in studies.

Bone pain from Neulasta may start within a few days of receiving your dose of Neulasta.

What you can do

If you experience bone pain during your treatment with Neulasta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend ways to help manage your symptoms. For example, they may recommend using an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) to manage the pain.

Inflammation of the aorta

Although rare, it’s possible to experience inflammation or swelling of the aorta from Neulasta. The aorta is the largest artery in your body, and it carries blood from your heart throughout your body. Inflammation of the aorta can happen as soon as the first week after starting treatment. You should be aware of the symptoms of inflammation of the aorta and tell your doctor right away if you experience any of them. Symptoms may include:

  • fever
  • abdominal pain
  • back pain
  • feeling unwell (malaise)

What you can do

If you develop symptoms of inflammation of the aorta, see a doctor or go to the hospital. They will be able to treat your condition. If you do develop inflammation of the aorta, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop treatment with Neulasta. In this case, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Neulasta.

Before taking Neulasta, discuss your health history with your doctor. Neulasta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.