Filgrastim Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 8, 2024.

Applies to filgrastim: solution.

Other dosage forms:

• injection solution

Serious side effects of filgrastim

Along with its needed effects, filgrastim may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking filgrastim:

More common

• black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in the urine or stools
• blurred vision
• chest pain or tightness
• chills
• confusion
• cough producing mucus
• dizziness
• fainting
• fever
• headache
• lightheadedness
• nervousness
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• pounding in the ears
• slow or fast heartbeat
• trouble breathing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

• blisters on the skin
• cloudy urine
• cough or hoarseness
• coughing or spitting up blood
• decrease or increase in the amount of urine
• difficulty swallowing
• feeling of fullness
• general feeling of illness
• hives, itching, skin rash
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• painful or difficult urination
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sores on the skin
• stomach pain
• swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• swollen glands

Other side effects of filgrastim

Some side effects of filgrastim may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• back pain
• bloody nose
• bone pain
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• difficulty with moving
• dizziness
• frequent urge to urinate
• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• muscle pain or stiffness
• pain in the arms, legs, or joints
• rash
• trouble sleeping

For healthcare professionals

Applies to filgrastim: injectable solution.

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Decreased platelet counts (up to 97%), increase in white blood cell counts between 10 x 10(9)/L and 70 x 10(9)/L (up to 88%), decreased hemoglobin (up to 65%), mild to moderate decreases in hemoglobin (up to 59%), leukocytosis (up to 41%), thrombocytopenia (up to 38%), transient thrombocytopenia (up to 35%), palpable splenomegaly (up to 30%), splenomegaly (up to 30%), anemia (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Spleen disorder, splenic rupture/fatal splenic rupture
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Sickle cell anemia with crisis/sickle cell crisis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Cytopenia
• Postmarketing reports: Sickle cell disorders^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Very common (10% or more): Mild to moderate musculoskeletal symptoms (up to 44%), medullary bone pain (up to 38%), mild to moderate bone pain (up to 33%), bone pain (up to 30%), back pain (up to 15%), musculoskeletal pain (up to 14%), flank pain (up to 12%), myalgia (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, extremity pain, muscle spasms, osteoporosis, severe musculoskeletal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pseudogout/chondrocalcinosis pyrophosphate, rheumatoid arthritis exacerbation
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Decreased bone density
• Frequency not reported: Musculoskeletal chest pain, neck pain^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Pyrexia (up to 48%), fatigue (up to 20%), pain (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, generalized weakness, malaise, mucosal inflammation, mucositis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Epistaxis (up to 15%), cough (up to 14%), dyspnea (up to 13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Bronchitis, hemoptysis, sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), hypoxia, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, pulmonary infiltrates/lung infiltration, respiratory failure
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Pulmonary adverse events
• Frequency not reported: Interstitial pneumonia, serious pulmonary adverse events
• Postmarketing reports: Alveolar hemorrhage^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very common (10% or more): Spontaneously reversible elevations in lactate dehydrogenase (up to 56%), spontaneously reversible elevations in uric acid (up to 56%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia, blood glucose decreased, blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, blood uric acid increased, decreased appetite, hyperuricemia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fluid volume disturbances^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Very common (10% or more): Spontaneously reversible elevations in alkaline phosphatase (up to 56%), blood alkaline phosphatase increased (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Gamma glutamyltransferase increased, hepatomegaly
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): AST increased^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 43%), abdominal pain (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, diarrhea, oral pain, oropharyngeal pain, pharyngolaryngeal pain, vomiting
• Frequency not reported: Stomatitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Dizziness (up to 14%), headache (up to 10%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hypoesthesia, paresthesia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Very common (10% or more): Rash/skin rash (up to 14%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia, cutaneous/leukocytoclastic vasculitis, erythema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis/Sweet's syndrome, maculopapular rash, pre-existing skin disorder exacerbation, psoriasis exacerbation
• Frequency not reported: Urticaria^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very common (10% or more): Chest pain (up to 13%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension, hypotension, peripheral edema
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Capillary leak syndrome, veno-occlusive disease
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Aortitis, vascular disorder^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Dysuria, hematuria, urinary tract infection
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Proteinuria,
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Urine abnormality^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Injection site pain, injection site reaction, transfusion reaction^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Antibody formation, sepsis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD)/fatal GvHD^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Drug hypersensitivity
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anaphylactic reaction, hypersensitivity/hypersensitivity reactions, severe allergic reaction
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Allergic reaction
• Frequency not reported: Anaphylaxis, angioedema^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Glomerulonephritis^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Frequency not reported: cytogenetic abnormalities, transformation to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML)^[Ref]

Transformation to MDS/AML and cytogenetic abnormalities appeared to be confined to patients with congenital neutropenia. The cumulative risk in this population in the eighth year of treatment was predicted to be 16.5%, or approximately 2% per year.^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• How many biosimilars have been approved in the United States?
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Further information

Filgrastim side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer