User Reviews for Neulasta subcutaneous

Terrible hives after shot. I have been experiencing hip & leg pain ever since and wonder if its a long term side effect. Anyone else experience this?

My husband has CLL and a wonderful oncologist. I appreciate the doc even more after reading these reviews. It prompted me to add our experience. Tony had a WBC of 80k and a spleen the size of a football at the start of chemo. He was put on an aggressive plan of fludarabine and rituximab. The first treatment he did NOT get the Neulasta. I assume there was a risk of spleen rupture. The next month he had his weeklong treatment and the doc told him to start taking Claritin on Thursday to prepare for the Neulasta shot on Monday (Chemo was Monday-Friday). He went back to the doc to get the shot Monday and prepared for the worst. He did get achy, but it really never progressed beyond a pain level 2-3. Like a flu, he said. The next round we repeated the same process with the Claritin, a 3 day break from all treatment, then the shot. This time it was a bit more troublesome, maybe a 4-5 on the pain scale. No pain meds were ever prescribed and my husband never felt he needed them, really. 4th round of chemo, we told the doc that the pain was significantly more the 2nd time and he cut the dosage of Neulasta to half, still took the Claritin for the 3 days leading up to the shot and for a week afterwards. No problems with that round at all. It really helped his WBC recover after therapy and since he works at a school, we were thankful that there was some reduction in his chance of getting sick. He did not get sick during the entire 5 months of chemo that occurred Jan-May 2015. Not even a cold! We will always be worried when he gets Neulasta as we believe it could 'turn on' him at any time. I am so sorry for all of you that have had terrible experiences. It seems that some of you should change oncologists. Ours was very deliberate in the way he approached these medications. Tony got full exams and a thorough 'how are you feeling' discussion before it was administered. We are on Tricare, which covered the cost of the drug, too. Read More Read Less

After the Neulsta shot, all OK for about 2 days, then intense bone pain all over. Called Doctor on a Friday evening and he said it was likely caused by the Neulasta shot. Since I had some Norco-5 left over from gall bladder surgery just 2 weeks before I started Chemo, he said I could take some of those. It barely took me from a 10 to maybe an 8 on the pain scale. After two days hovering in intense pain, my husband read on line that some folks were taking Claritin for the side effects. He gave me a Claritin 12 and within a half hour the pain subsided almost entirely. What puzzles me is that the doctors don't seem to know much about this, but the nurses do. When I went in for my blood work between chemo treatments, I mentioned it to the nurse, she said of course, either Claritin or Zyrtec would work for some folks. Four days of intense pain could have been avoided if the Doctor had a clue. I think Neulasta should be advising that if their is intense bone pain, patients should already be equipped to deal with it. I had to do my own research, there's nothing in the literature from Neulasta that I could find that offered this suggestion.Read More Read Less

After 5 of 8 rounds of chemo, I am feeling side effects of this drug. On day 2 after chemo treatment started feeling flu like ache in my legs and abdomen. The worst overall is the stomach cramps. I've been taking Clariton every 12 hours and ibuprofen every 2-3 hours. Now 4 days since symptoms started, feeling better but not 100%. My advice is to be prepared-have Clariton and ibuprofen on hand. There may be side effects that may appear after several treatments. In the futute I will be taking Clariton the day before I get the Nuelasta injection.Read More Read Less

I go for chemo every 3 weeks., for 3 days chemo and shot 4th day... First shot, fine for about and hour, then ,I could not breathe went to ER... Second time, we figured I may need more fluid... That seemed to work..No problems...Then there was a break in treatment because of holiday, got shot,passed out. after 15 min. fine..... Today, had 600 liters of fluid, had shot, almost done with fluid and had passed out at the center... they sent me to er.... no one knows why this is happening...They can not figure it out... alll perplexed... I can take the chemo fine, like one nurse told the Dr.. she takes chemo like it is water.... Anyone else have this kind of reaction. Read More Read Less

I have done 3 rounds of 6 of chemotherapy and I take a shot of neulasta the day following my treatment. I have had no side effects to speak of. Around the 1-2 week mark I get some mild elbow joint discomfort and some inter muscular type sensitivity in my ribs, but nothing that prevent me from going about my day. For the record I am 42 years old, female, 160 lbs, 5'9". I have a fairly good diet, don't drink or smoke and go for walks daily. I have been told I may experience more of this bone pain on my next 3 rounds, as the cocktail is changing. I guess that's why they gave me the codeine, just in case. I wish for a speedy recovery for all of you that are experiencing this in a painful way and for a healthy cancer free future. Read More Read Less

I'm currently undergoing R-CHOP regimen chemo for DLBC Lymphoma. After the 2nd round my white blood cell count dropped to 1 and my oncologist recommended neulasta. I was given a written description of the drug and its potential side-effects. I accepted the risks and had the injection 36 hours after I completed my infusion, and have done the same for each additional round of chemo. The most I've noticed is a small soreness around the injection site, less than my last tetanus booster though. This has been the case for all three rounds of neulasta I've received. Less quantifiable but something else I've noticed is that after starting neulasta it seems that my basal metabolism has been elevated. All of my life I've had a lower than normal body temperature since I've been given neulasta its averaged a degree higher than its always been. Read More Read Less

Originally when I used the full dose of Neulasta I had severe pain. The option at that time was to have daily shots of neupogen instead. MUCH less discomfort. Then I asked my oncologist if she could give me a lower dose of Neulasta so I would not have to come in daily for a shot. She agree to give half a shot to see how it would work. It works GREAT. No or little discomfort and only one trip 24 hours after chemo and one shot. If Neulasta hurts you badly, ask to try something different or a different way.Read More Read Less

I had my first chemotherapy treatment for Breast Cancer. It was followed by an injection of this drug the next day. About 6 hours after the injection, I began an intense 6-7 day migraine. My usual Imitrex would barely touch the pain. I finally found taking an Imitrex and a Benadryl would give me some relief. I also had some chest pains, bone aches, and dizziness. I found the migraine debilitating for at least 4 days. All the rest was annoying, but completely tolerable.

Treatment associated with MDS. Neulasta provided longer lasting, more effective results than Neupogen (but had 24-48 hour side effects - tired, low fever, blood pressure/pulse flux) which subsided. Restored healthier immune system level after 'neutropenia'. Barely recovered from near critical staph infection (requiring surgery) when WBC & abs. neutrophil levels were too low (neutropenic), so we watch these numbers carefully....Neulasta has worked very well with just one treatment per month, but please post if you've discovered a better treatment...Read More Read Less

I think it has worked well, but am scared of it. I have been given the shot DURING chemotherapy and everything I have read says that it should not be given till 24 hours AFTER chemo.

I have had a neulasta injection 24 hours after chemo treatment several times now. I didn't have any pain until the last one and it was miserable! It was like the worst migraine over my entire body, head, neck, jaw, back and hips ached constantly with no relief for 2 1/2 days.I took lortab and percocet and zyrtec. I was told to take claritin or zyrtec for body aches. The last sleepless night I took 2 Percocet and one zyrtec, finally the pain subsided and I slept. I have pancreatic cancer and have chemo every other week, but I can honestly say I have never had pain like this.I can see how some people could get suicidal, it's just that bad.Read More Read Less

4 days after my shot I had EXCRUTIATING lower back. I associated it with my Herpes. Dr didn't think so. Second shot I had similar pain but it moved up my back and to my sternum. Ibuprofin helped but Drs say no vitamins which I would normally use to combat outbreaks. Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm on my second round of chemo and I was required to take the Neulasta a day her my chemo. I've experienced pain beyond my wildest dream. I've experienced joint pain and extreme lower back pain. my oncologist prescribed me hydrocodone 500 and I'm still have chronic pain. I'm 45 yrs old and a mother of 3 and the pain is the worst I've ever felt. I've cried because the pain is so unbearable.

I have received Neulasta 24 hrs after each chemo treatment. The 1st time, the nurse told me there might be "some bone pain" in the next 24 hrs. 5 days later, I had 36 hrs of horrific pain in my lower spine, hips & sternum. Nothing helped. My husband wanted to take me to the ER, but I wouldn't go. After talking with the office nurse at my oncologist's & reading online, I found that the allergy med Claritin (Yes, Claritin) & naproxen, for some reason, help with the bone pain. No one seems to know why, just that it works. I now start taking 1 claritin &1 naproxen each morning starting the day of chemo & continue for 5 days until the bone pain is gone. It makes it bearable.Read More Read Less

Initially I was given the injection a week after IV Chemo based on blood results that were consistently severely neutropenic. Finally Dr decided to give injection 24 hours after chemo. 1) Have the injection given slowly - much less injection pain. 2) Be Prepared for intense bone/muscle pain - to the point of not being able to sleep - tramadol helps somewhat, but the combination of post chemo side effects and the injection more than triples the side effects. I continue to take it as I can't afford to be immunosuppressed - but it takes its toll mentally and physically.Read More Read Less

Have had 2 rounds of chemo (AC+herceptin) for stage III breast cancer followed by Neulasta given a day later; also took 3 days of dexamethasone before, during & after chemo. Round 1: 2 days later could hardly walk due to pain, not able to eat or drink, severe diarrhea. When I could not handle it anymore, called oncologist-on-call who told me to "expect some pain w/ chemo" and try Tylenol! Totally useless "consult"! Ended up in ER same day for severe chest tightness, mediastinal pain, severe pain up spine to base of neck, severe hip & leg pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea - treated for dehydration & MI ruled out; fluids,IV dilaudid & hydroxizine helped alot! 3 days later, still not able to eat/drink, w/pain & nausea so went back to ER. WBC was 0. Given fluids, pain & nausea meds IV & a mask; needed to go back to clinic daily for IV fluids for 3 more days. WBC returned 6 days after Neulasta. Next week, short of breath and found to be anemic - needed IV iron. Considered taking my chances w/o chemo. Round 2: My oncologist gave me long acting IV anti-nausea drug w/next chemo round and decreased one chemo drug by 15% to "lowest effective dose". 2 days later, immobile with pain & in bed for 5 days. But this time I had on hand at home-oral Dilaudid + Hydroxizine PAM (alternating w/ Ondansetron) & Gatorade, Pedialyte & broth. Was able to get by with these at home but stayed in bed most of the week. Round 3 coming up and oncologist suggested Claritin w/ chemo & Neulasta in addition to Round 2 additions. Side effects are hell and mine did not seem to be mentioned for chemo or Neulasta, especially the boa constrictor around my chest & total spine pain which others have posted here. Getting better each round so I will tough it out for now for my family. Don't let clinicians discount your pain - make them address it until YOU are comfortable!Read More Read Less

I am receiving chemo for an oligo metastatic breast cancer. The first time I received neupogen which gave me a dull achy pain that was tolerable. This time I received a neulasta shot and hope I can talk my doctor out of it. I received my port on a Monday, chemo on Wednesday, took my bandages off on the day of neulasta shot and the next day after that all hell broke loose. I had severe burns and blisters where my bandages had been, my heart raced out of control, the pain was unbelieveable, I projectile vomited twice and felt like I had the flu complete with chills. Oh, and did I mention the bloody nose? After 10 days my white cell count was over 30!!!! Seriously?? I went through all that so I can get leukemia? I just hope my doctor will give me neupogen next time. I have a painful bladder disease and can tolerate a lot of pain as I've been on methadone for 10 years. Finally got off that and now am really depressed at the thought of having to take massive doese of percocet for this pain.Read More Read Less

I have had 3 of 8 chemo treatments and receive a Neulasta shot the day after chemo (more than 24 hrs). I was well informed by my Oncologist and the infusion staff of the potential side effects and treatments. My side effects have been relatively mild ....bad backache that begins approx 6 days after the shot and lasts for 2-3 days. After the 1st shot, I did experience mild, flu-like symptoms for a day or so (again...about a week after the shot). Those symptoms have not re-occurred. What saddens and disturbs me about some of the experiences posted here is many people seem to have been ill-informed of the possible side effects. My doc (and again, the infusion center) was VERY CLEAR about all possible side effects and the possible SEVERITY of those side-effects (mild to intense bone pain....especially in the areas where bone marrow is concentrated - breastbone (some think they are experiencing a heart-attack), thighs, back. I was WELL PREPARED. Doc was also VERY CLEAR that ALL SIDE EFFECTS...even the VERY SEVERE can be managed with OTC Ibuprofen OR IV pain relievers (she called it Ibuprofen on steroids!!), and that it was NOT ACCEPTABLE to have unmanageable pain. As I said, thankfully my side effects have been relatively mild and the shot is doing its job...keep my immune system VERY HEALTHY! PLEASE talk to your doc if your pain is not managed by OTC methods. You do NOT/SHOULD NOT have to suffer. Fighting the fight with all of you and plan to BE A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR!!! :-)Read More Read Less

This is the drug from hell! I had 4 chemo infusions (AC)followed by Neulasta with no bone pain whasoever. My 5th was Taxol and I got the worst bone pain of my life! I couldn't sit, stand, lie down or even walk without being in excruciating pain. Percocet worked for only two days. I suffered another 2 days and then went to the hospital for a much needed shot of morhpine. I was then prescribed Dilaudit which I had to take for another 4 days. My dr. figured it was the Taxol/Neulasta combo that did it. This drug should not even be an option. It's effective but it's not worth the side effects. It's only reason for use is to shorten the time between infusions from 3 weeks to 2 weeks. I am now off this horrendous drug and waiting 3 weeks between infusions. If your dr. says you need Neulasta, I would seriously look at other options.Read More Read Less