Generic Name: Neulasta (pegfilgrastim)
Neulasta Reviews
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "Onpro ads on TV are so bogus. First of all, all patients should be shown BALD. They romanticize this entire experience. Once you get Neulasta or Onpro, you experience debilitating bone/muscle pain. You cannot stand to be touched, literally, from head to toe. Claritin? Ha, helps minimally if at all. Me, I take home the shot and give it to myself 24 hours after my treatment. Okay, it helps with neutropenia, I get it. But please don’t show women with a full head of hair with Onpro on their arm. We are bald, feel like crap, and it takes 2 days to get over the side effects of this overpriced drug. Cancer in all its forms is ugly, and so is its treatment."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "This drug Neulasta is the worst! The side effects are horrible and absolutely not worth any possible benefit. Come on, Amgen, step up your game. You made 3.8 billion dollars off this drug last year. I think you can surely do better."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "Second round of chemo, combo of Taxol/Cisplatin/Avastin, and Dr. gave Neulasta Onpro to keep WBC up. On day 5, had left femur pain. Day 6 started horrible upper sternum, lower back, pelvis pain. The pain is constant unless I’m walking around. I can’t lay, sleep, or get any relief with the use of Claritin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, warm bath, or cold compress. Pain is a 7-8 that pushes 9 when I try to lay down. I will never take this drug ever again. This is worse than the chemo with absolutely no relief. Just hoping the pain doesn’t last for days."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I received the Neulasta after my chemo on Thursday. It blinked away for 27 hours, sounded its 2-minute warning, and dispensed its medicine all as advertised. I took Claritin and experienced no bone pain. By Monday, I developed a fever, and by Wednesday, my white cell count hit ZERO. I think the Neulasta failed and am curious about other patients with NO white cell count improvements from Neulasta. Also, the commercials really bother me because all the actors have hair. By the time you're on 'strong chemo,' you have no hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "My brother is currently undergoing chemotherapy for a rare cancer. He gets chemo for 5 days, then he’s off for 3 weeks. At the end of each treatment, he’s given the Neulasta shot (patch form). It goes off the following day. Usually, within 12 hours, my brother experiences excruciating bone pain, especially in his back area. He screams and cries in pain, and there’s nothing that helps-Claritin, Tylenol, hot/cold packs, prescription pain pills. It is literal torture on his body. His doctor said these are 'normal' side effects, but to me, this is not worth it. I can’t stand to listen to his cries anymore, this medication is destroying his body mentally and physically."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "Worse experience in my life with any medication. My WBC counts were normal after 12 rounds of chemo, so it was unnecessary. I have never felt such excruciating bone pain for over 8 days. I was bedridden, unable to stand up or sit down. Lost a week's worth of work, which is devastating as an independent contractor. I never will take Neulasta again, no matter who recommends it. :("
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I was recently diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. My treatment plan consists of 4 chemo treatments followed by 4 Neulasta shots. Well, initially I was told about the side effect (bone pain) but was not told that the pain could be reduced or even eliminated before it started just by taking 1 Claritin the day of and after the shot. You guys know that this shot stimulates the bone marrow (center of the bone) to produce the white blood cells, right? I experienced the most excruciating and crippling pain in my life from the first shot. To add, I also had a nosebleed. My experience with the second shot was much better. Take the Claritin if you can…"
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I have stage 2b lung cancer. I have had surgery but am receiving chemotherapy because it was also found in my lymph nodes. The first time my white cell numbers were down, I had to postpone chemo and get one shot of the generic Neulasta each day for 3 days. I have now had 1 dose of the OnPro Neulasta. The shots made my bones hurt much more than Neulasta, but no one told me about Claritin when I got the shots. I begin the Claritin 1 day before chemo, take it the day of, and 3 days after. I had no pain at all. I take the extended-release Claritin D every 24 hours. Hope this helps someone."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I had my 2nd Neulasta a week ago today. The bone pain is horrible. I've been taking the Claritin/Advil that my nurse said would help with the pain. Here it is a week later and it's getting worse. Barely able to sleep. Laid on ice last night which helped but the minute I got off the ice the pain returned. Luckily I have only 1 more of 6 chemo treatments so this should be the last time I get Neulasta. The pain is excruciating. Hope this stops soon."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "First chemo (cytoxin/taxotere) on Wednesday and Neulasta shot 24 hours after. Was very exhausted Friday midday and by nighttime all hell broke loose. The bone pain was excruciating and debilitating. Luckily, it was the weekend, but never left my bed, had to call out to work on Monday, and only could work half a day Tuesday. It's now one week later and the bone pain is still present in some areas, mainly my legs and feet, making it hard to walk. I do not meet Neulasta's website criteria for taking this drug. I am suggesting my oncologist find another way to help with my white blood cell counts. Seriously, will reconsider continuing chemo since at this stage it is only being given as an insurance policy since my double mastectomy removed the cancer."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "If I see that stupid commercial one more time. “ wouldn’t you rather stay at home”. No, I wouldn’t. I would rather go get a shot everyday than take this. Horrible side effects. This drug is all about big pharma and money."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I am a 44-year-old female, and I had a total of 4 injections. Yes, it really works with keeping the white blood cell count up. Did an awesome job there! But I had such severe bone and joint pain. It was unreal, the pain. Always 2 days after getting the injection. And the pain would last longer with each new injection. But I got Percocet for pain. I would just take a pill then go to bed. I seriously hate how very bad the pain was! But even being around the little ones I babysit for, who seemed always sick, I never caught anything. But the pain is insane. Drink lots and lots and lots of water and fluids."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "Bar none, use of the Neulasta Onpro Patch after chemo (for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma )produced the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. I’m a tough old broad of 70, but after two attempts to comply with my oncologist’s recommendations, I begged him to just let me die instead. OxyContin did not touch the pain, as I felt every bone in my body was ready to explode. I could not sit, stand, lie, or walk without bending double in agony. And guess what! My WBC dropped from a normal of 4.6 to 2.9 and is still that ten months later. My son is an oncologist and prescribes Neulasta as an absolute last resort for patients who demand it, thanks to clever advertising! A money-maker, yes; a helpful drug? I don't think so"
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "dr prescribed this Neulasta after chemo. had 2 lots so far and I will never take it again! Both times were bad but the second time was worse. The glands on the sides of my neck hurts so bad and swelled. My ears hurt my jaw hurt. Low grade fever for 2 days. Second dose was the same with swollen neck glands low grade fever 100.5 and ear pain Declining this med next week."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I didn’t expect the pain to be so bad. My jaw, teeth, arms, legs and stomach were all hurting. Felt like labor pains!!! I’ve had 4 children and wasn’t as uncomfortable as this! I’m not sure I want to go through this again in a few weeks"
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "After three Neulasta shots, three weeks apart, each one caused basically the same side effects, which was severe pain. After the second or third day, the pain started, and it was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my lifetime. In the bones and muscles. I took Advil that seemed to take the edge off but didn't take it away. Tried Tylenol, and it was basically the same, not much help. The severe pain lasted for about five days. Even seven or eight days later, I still had serious pain in the bones but not as bad as the first five days."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I am taking this in conjunction with AC Chemotherapy for IDC Breast Cancer. I am 40 years old and haven't had much aching that I couldn't take care of with Advil. Not a bad trade-off for good white blood cell numbers."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "Started taking Neulasta in conjunction with my chemo. So far have 2 injections, the pain is more severe each time. Pain on a scale of (1-10) always minimum 8 and escalating to 10 occasionally. Can barely get out of bed for 3 days. Spoke with oncology dept. about my severe back pain and they told me it had nothing to do with the Neulasta and so see my family doctor. None of my Drs. forewarned me before I started taking this drug of the severe side effects and it looks like they still have their "heads in the sand". Or they believe the pain is worth the gain, unfortunately they are not going through it. I'm going to try the Claritin as someone recommended as there will obviously be no assistance coming from my medical field."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I have never felt worse than I have after receiving this medication. I received a shot after my treatments and today has been the worse ever. I cannot feel my hands and my feet hurt to stand/walk. I will be asking my doctor to take this out of my regimen.."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I am not sure how effective the shot was but I'm giving a low rating due to a severe allergic reaction. I had my first chemo on a Monday and received the shot at 3pm the following Wednesday. By 5pm my feet were burning a rash swept up my whole body. My heart was racing. Spent the evening in ER. Needed shot of epinephrine and hooked up to IV. I will not be having the shot after my second round of chemo this Monday."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I learned from another patient to take Claritin a few days after the shot and keep taking it for 5 days. It really worked. The first time the pain was so bad, it felt like 3-4 days of labor pains. When I used the Claritin I only felt little twinges and a few cramps."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "My white count was 1.3, and the Neulasta injection raised it in one week to 13. The range is 3.5-11. It didn't seem to affect my other counts. I feel bloated. Not sure if it is a side effect. I have a myeloid leukemia called APL. I still don't have any energy."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I was the rare case that was allergic to Neulasta and ended up in the ER with anaphylaxis the day after getting the injection. After an epi-pen, many steroids, and a night in the hospital, I'm still feeling the effects of the reaction a week later. I will now have to finish AC chemo without a white blood cell booster. Please be careful on this medication and call your doctor at any signs of swelling or trouble breathing."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "I have to rate this so low because of the side effects. I cannot even put into words how excruciating and debilitating the pain was. 72 hours an eternity. A experience that would stop me from taking chemo, but the doctor said he will not give it again. Hope this reaction does not happen to anyone else."
For Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy "My little brother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver. He was diagnosed in early September of this year. He got up early on day 2 after taking Neulasta and complained about severe pain from his stomach to the back of his neck and shoulders. We just heard about the Claritan medication application through this news letters and others. I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for recommending the Claritan to help stop some of the pain. He just hates taking pain medications for the way it makes him feel. He is just so worn out all of the time. Will try and get back to you nice people for helping with the advice. He has a very rare cancer so we will see. Again Thanks for the advice."
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