Neupogen 3 times a week

Hi,
I am on tx 35/48. I got a call from my doc. she told me it's time to start a Nuepogen 3 times a week WBC is 1.8 also Hemoglobin is 9.8.
I am really afraid to take a Neupogen because of the side effects. Can you please tell me how long does it take for bone pain to go away? Also, what about a dose that my doc prescribes me?

[sfbaygirl]

I haven't tried Neupogen yet, but I have done Neulasta. It is the same but peglated. The bone pain lasts about 10 days for me from the shot. From what I have heard others say it doesn't last as long with the neup. Are you going to get Procrit too? If you do, I wouldn't do it on the same days. Your sx will increase. Some people don't get the bone pain BTW. What is your ANC?

[illona]

I am on procrit since week 8on tx once a week. I am not sure about my ANC. I will call my doc tomorrow to find out. but what about the 3 time a week it's normal?

[sfbaygirl]

From what my dr says, he wants me to do 3x as well. My ANC is at .9 He likes me to get Neup at 1.0, but I hate it so much I didn't call him. Hoping it goes up on its own. Most dr's go by the ANC to order the Neupogen. My WBC has been 1.4 and the dr wasn't as concerned as he was with the ANC. Neulasta I only take one shot about every 3 weeks. The Neup you take for 3 days in a row and it lasts a few weeks too. It works really fast. If you have a fax or way to get your labs quickly that is the best way to keep up with it. At least you are close to being done and won't have to deal with sx of Neup for long, if you get them.

[painterlady13]

I am on Neupogen once a week and have very little sides. I was told that neupogen is milder as far as the side effects than neulasta. Occasionally I have mild bone pain that will last a day or so. Other than that I really don't have any sides.  I have not heard of being on it 3 times a week but then the low for WBC is 4.8 and mine is at 2.7 so not far enough down yet to call for more I guess.

[sfbaygirl]

Hooray! I just got my labs from today and my ANC went up to 1.2 so I dodge the Neupogen bullet once again. I am on week 28/48 and for the past several months my Hgb went up to 12, so no more Procrit and now my ANC is staying around 1000, or 1.0 so I don't have to take the shots. I take my labs once a week and both seem to be leveling off.

Don't be afraid, I know you have heard horror stories about the Neupogen and bone pain, but if it keeps you on tx, that is what needs to be done. I told my Hemo that I didn't want those Neulasta shots anymore and he said he would take me off tx. I held out my arm. The sx's were bad, but at least I am still able to tx.

Ask your dr. what level your ANC must be to get the shot. On Interferon we can go lower than other chemo's in our WBC without risk of infection. Mine has been low since the beginning and I haven't had any infections. I have heard that some hep dr's let the ANC go to 300 or .3 before intervening with Neupogen or Neulasta. I have a Hemotologist/Onc who deals with cancer, so I think that is why he has me get it when it above 1000. It has been down to .4 and I am around lots of snot nosed kids and on airplanes...

[FlGuy]

I've had not neupogen and neulasta. For me, I'd prefer more frequent shots of Neup than the Neulasta.  The bone pain stuff from the Neulasta wasn't worth it.  I didn't think Neup was bad at all. But, the more frequent Neup was not an inconvieneince, the hematologist is nearby and on my way to everything.

[friole]

I didn't think the "bone pain" was bad at all.  With all the other symptoms of tx, I really didn't notice it too much.  After I was done with tx I did two more shots of neupogen.  Taking it alone, I could feel the effects moreso than with everything else.  It really reminds me of the muscle soreness I get if I have hiked - especially climbed. Still, it was no big deal.

[FlGuy]

That should read 'I've had both Neupogen and Neulasta...'

[GrandOak]

Each time I did Neupogen, the bone bad was not very bad.  In fact, I think it was worse prior to the regimen than during or immediately after.

Each time I've done it, it was a booster regimen, as opposed to a regular tx schedule like my Procrit, where I did a shot a day for three consequtive days with a follow-up CBC lab on the 4th or 5th day.

[MissMiss]

I think I was one of those that posted how bad the bone pain was.  At EOT, I found out I have myopathy in my legs and I would almost bet that this is at least half of what I was feeling.  So, don't be afraid of the sides of Neup.  It works really fast and well worth it.  Also, some of us felt the combination of Procrit with Neup might have made the sides worse.  If you aren't on Procrit yet (and you probly should be with HGB at 9.8) you just might not feel anything much at all.  Good luck!  

3X a week is normal to start.  If you respond well, I would bet you will be cut back rather quickly.  Neupogen works very quickly, unlike Procrit.  Are you going to be doing weekly CBC's?  If not, I would push for it.  

Let us know.

miss