Palifermin is a human keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) produced by recombinant DNA
technology.
Palifermin is used to reduce the chance of developing sores and ulcers in the mouth and to
shorten the time with sores or ulcers in patients with blood cancers who receive high doses of
chemotherapy and radiation therapy before bone marrow transplants.
Palifermin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking palifermin?
Palifermin is given as an I .V. (in the vein) infusion for three days before you get chemotherapy
and then three days after. Palifermin should not be given to you within 24 hours of your chemotherapy
treatment.
Before you start receiving palifermin, tell your health care professional if you are allergic to
other products made from E. coli proteins.
Palifermin can cause possible tumor growth if it is used for nonblood related cancers. Talk to
your doctor if you have any questions.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from palifermin, seek emergency
medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
fever;
breathing problems;
skin and mucus membrane side effects such as rash,
redness, swelling, itching, unusual sensations in the mouth, tongue color change, tongue
thickening and changes in taste.
Other common side effects include:
swelling;
pain;
joint pain;
increases in blood pancreas enzymes;
increased blood pressure; or
protein in the urine.
Palifermin has not yet been shown to be safe and effective in patients being
treated for forms of cancer other than leukemia or lymphoma.
Palifermin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether
palifermin will be harmful to an unborn baby.
Do not
use palifermin without first
talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment. Discuss with
your doctor the appropriate use of birth control during treatment with palifermin if necessary.
It is not known whether palifermin passes into breast milk. Do not take palifermin without
first talking to your doctor if you are breast feeding a baby.
How should I take palifermin?
Palifermin is administered as an intravenous (into the vein) infusion. Most often, palifermin is
administered in a hospital or clinic setting. If you are administering palifermin at home, your healthcare
provider will give you detailed instructions regarding preparation, administration, and storage of the
medication.
Your doctor will determine the correct amount and frequency of treatment with palifermin Talk
to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the treatment schedule.
Palifermin vials should be stored in the refrigerator. Palifermin vials should be protected from
light. Store palifermin in the original carton until it is used. Do not freeze palifermin products.
What happens if I miss a dose of palifermin?
Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of palifermin.
Where can I get more information about palifermin?
Your pharmacist has information about palifermin written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of palifermin?
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from palifermin, seek emergency
medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
fever;
breathing problems;
skin and mucus membrane side effects such as rash,
redness, swelling, itching, unusual sensations in the mouth, tongue color change, tongue
thickening and changes in taste.
Other common side effects include:
swelling;
pain;
joint pain;
increases in blood pancreas enzymes;
increased blood pressure; or
protein in the urine.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about palifermin?
Palifermin is given as an I .V. (in the vein) infusion for three days before you get chemotherapy
and then three days after. Palifermin should not be given to you within 24 hours of your chemotherapy
treatment.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects from palifermin, seek emergency
medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
fever;
breathing problems;
skin and mucus membrane side effects such as rash,
redness, swelling, itching, unusual sensations in the mouth, tongue color change, tongue
thickening and changes in taste.
What should I avoid while taking palifermin?
Palifermin is given as an I .V. (in the vein) infusion for three days before you get chemotherapy
and then three days after. Palifermin should not be given to you within 24 hours of your chemotherapy
treatment.
What other drugs will affect palifermin?
Palifermin can interact with heparin. If heparin is used to maintain your IV, your IV must be
flushed with saline before and after palifermin.
Other medications may interact with palifermin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before
taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products, during treatment with palifermin.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not
a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug
interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009