When to stop taking Neupogen

[amberegg]

This Friday will be week 22 of 24. I take a weekly neupogen shot the day before my INF shot. It has kept my ANC up (prior to the Neupogen shot my Neutriphil was 500) Anyway after the last INF shot do you think I should take one more neupogen to keep the count up or should I just let everything settle back into it own rhythem? Can't wait to finish!!!!! Been UND since week 4!

[amberegg]

Thankx everyone.. this forum has always been so helpful.You guys rock!!!!

[MissMiss]

Neupogen is very fast acting and quick to dissapate.  I always did mine a day or two after Peg.  It is important to wait at least 24 hours after Peg to do the Neupogen.

I also continued my Neup at least a week after the last Peg.  At that point I was out or the Hemo would have liked at least one more week but we went with the flow.  5 mo post tx my WBC is just at 4. the low end of normal so it does take time to come back to normal

I also took the Riba for the next week after the last Peg shot.  They work in combo.  In reality the Riba will take about 6 months to leave your body so someone struggling with low HGB might decide not to take the Riba for that week.  

I'm just someone who tx'd like everyone else here and by no means a doctor.  My only PHD is from the school of hard knocks, lol!

miss

[GrandOak]

Sounds like a question for your doctor.  They know better your conditions and perscribed dosage, so they would be best to recommend when to stop.  We're simply patients who can only speak from our own experiences, which may be completely different from yours!

[GoofyDad]

I don't remember the exact details, but a week or so after tx, I did a CBC and the Docs office called and asked me to do another final neup. Said I could skip it if I didn't have one in the fridge, but I did.

[NYgirl]

I think you should have a CBC to see exactly what your level is and have the doctor judge by that (or you judge) that is what I would do.  Then there is no guessing "did I do the right thing"?

[Teufelhunden]

I'm glad you're close to being done! This is my second time posting(I think), but it's nice to read success stories. I'm a 53yr old male Genotype 1a, tomorrow being my 28th of 48 weeks. INF/riba, and undetectable at 18 wks. I was started on Neupogen during week 5 (once a week) and the doctor kept me on until week 22. My WBC never rose above 5.0 but at week 22 he started reading my Neutrophil count (1.3 today). He said I wouldn't need a Neupogen unless my count dropped below 1000. My WBC is still below 5. As you can tell, I'm kinda new to all this. I've been remiss in my treatment documentation and I'm trying to play catchup. Besides the ton of questions I've written down when I see the Dr 2/13, is there anything I need to mention regarding Neupogen? Thanks, and again, congratulations! You oldtimes give us newbies the assurance that it's all worth it.

[amberegg]

I do the Neupogen upon the advise of my Dr, but initally she prescribed it 3X wk. This was too much my neuts were too high through trial and error I found once a week works.My dr says that I can stop all drugs (INF, RIBA & Neupogen) immediately after week 24. But I am concerned that the INF stays in your system for a while.  Congrats on 14 weeks. It will be over before you know it!

[nobhillhepc]

Hi, do you do the shot for white blood cells the day before interferon as a personal choice or is that recommended by your doctor?  Congratulations on early response and almost being done with treatment, I will do shot 14 out of 24 tomorrow after work, cleared during first two weeks, must feel great to be almost done!