Neulasta Treatment

Anyone here have to take neulasta? White cells were down and Dr. sent me to Hemo guy who sugg. neulasta.
Dosed with that a month ago & made me feel terrible (couple days)! More blood work says wbc's dropping again so, more neulasta yesterday. Hemo guy says most folks are treated every two weeks!
I haven't seen anything posted here about this kind of treatment & it's puzzling as to why. Why wouldn't my Hep Dr. have said earlier on that in his experience; peginter/copeg may deplete my white cell count to the extent that you might have to undergo neulasta treatment. I would assume that as many patients treated for Hep C that more wouldn't experience wbc drops and be prescribed neul. tx.
Last but not least; this juice is waaaay expensive! Hemo dude gets 5.7K per dose & I'm reponsible for $985.00 at the end of it all! Yikes!

[FlGuy]

You also might check with the doc to determine what level of anc's he receommends intervention.  Some people here were allowed to go as low as 300.  My first tx, doc wanted to go at 1000, this time it will be at 500. With healthy co-pays (Neupogen is not real cheap either) sometimes economy comes into the tx equation too.  Also, another angle to look at with your insurance company is how the policy considers coverage if the rescue drugs (procrit, neup, 'lasta) are administered in the doc's office versus a perscription.  There could be a difference (medical coverage aspects vs. perscription plan coverage and co-pays) For me, it works out better to have the hemo shoot me with the stuff in the office, a clinical setting.

[Sincebirth]

I have been on Neulasta for 40 weeks!

Started at week 20 and am on week 60 and know all about it.  

It sucks real bad.  I basically have the flu for 3 days after taking it.  I dose every 3rd week.  My WBC goes way high above normal and then drops below normal at the end of the 3 weeks.  After the initial sides I feel real good and then go down until the next shot.

SOC is a lot easier than this drug but it does help.  Was going to switch to the Neupogen but I aready got all the meds.  And they are real expensive.

[Teufelhunden]

Dr put me on Neupogen almost from the onset of treatment (Jun 06). Weekly injections. I stayed on until late Nov. when he started reading my NE instead of WBC. He said if it drops below 1000 I'll have to get a shot. Although my WBC still remained low (2.4-2.7) my NE has stayed above 1000. BTW, my Friday blood work showed my WBC at 4.8!! I was shocked!  But Neupogen did to me what Neulasta had done to FIGuy and Sincebirth. Thursday Neupogen, Friday Pegasays, and then the next three days was rough. Severe aches in my joints to the point where I had to use a cane around the house.

[milomusik]

Thanks for the info FlGuy. Thought there might be a cheaper version with less sidefx....this stuff is evil.....good news is, HepC combo treatment has been relatively easy!
Still waiting for my 6 wk loads....damn labs are slooow lately!

[FlGuy]

Neulasta is the peylated version of Neupogen.  It does work longer than Neupogen.  But there are a few downsides to 'lasta.  First, it's about 6 times as expensive.  But that might be offsett somewhat by the reduced frequency - but I don't think so.  Second, the sx's from Neulasta a more rugged than Neupogen.  Includes bone pain and other aches and stuff.  I've had both.  If it comes to my choice again, I'd choose more frequent Neupogen.  Both are filgrastim and are designed to raise your absolute neutrophil count (ANCs) a component of white blood cells.  ANC's are the infection fighters.  Doc usually intervene with Neup or Neulasta whne ANCs get  in the range of 300 - 750. Sfbay, who is laid up right, had beig sx problems with Neulasta and swore the stuff off.

[milomusik]

Right, thanks for all the info and advice!
My ANC's have been around 250-300 when he treats me. It's been 4 weeks between doses so far (2x to date). Yes, quite nasty side fx as well!
Also, dosage has been administered in an oncology clinic.
Talk about a grattitude check! I'm getting a shot and leaving while everyone else there is getting full on chemo!
Gotta stay happy here people!
Thanks again!

[FlGuy]

It sounds kind of strange, but I learn to appreciate hcv when I go to the hematologist/oncologist office every two weeks.  Sometimes I need to realize that there are others in a lot tougher situations than me.  I know what you mean. Be well.

[orphanedhawk]

   I had a doctor who was going to stop tx due to my low wbc. Sfbaygirl helped me get another doctor. She kept telling me to get on neupogen although she had big problems with nuelasta. I've been doing neupogen twice weekly for about 2 months. I complain about the shots but they do give me a lift. I'd ask your doctor about switching to neupogen. I may feel like a dart board but I'll take that over bone pain, anyday.
   As far as your question about why aren't we told tx can mess with our blood cells, it is all in the long winded brochure of sides. HCV is a virus of the blood. SInce we're trying to kill the virus in our blood, it is logical that our blood gets the sides. However, I wish they'd come up with some less toxic pharmacueticals.   Good luck