Neumega (Oprelvekin) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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What is cancer?

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. The abnormal cells are termed cancer cells, malignant cells, or tumor cells. Many cancers and the abnormal cells that compose the cancer tissue are further identified by the name of the tissue that the abnormal cells originated from (for example, breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer). Cancer is not confined to humans; animals and other living organisms can get cancer. Below is a schematic that shows normal cell division and how when a cell is damaged or altered without repair to its system, the cell usually dies. Also shown is what can occur when such damaged or unrepaired cells do not die and become cancer cells and proliferate with uncontrolled growth; a mass of cancer cells develop. Frequently, cancer cells can break away from this original mass of cells, travel through the blood and lymph systems, and lodge in other organs where they can again repeat the ...

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Neumega Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using oprelvekin (Neumega)?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oprelvekin.

Before using oprelvekin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

congestive heart failure;
a heart rhythm disorder;
a history of heart disease or stroke;
a history of fluid around your liver, heart, or lungs;
a seizure disorder; or
kidney disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use oprelvekin.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether oprelvekin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I use oprelvekin (Neumega)?

Oprelvekin is given as an injection under the skin of your stomach, thigh, hip, or upper arm. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home.

Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.

Avoid shaking the medication vial (bottle). You may gently swirl the vial, but vigorous shaking can ruin the medicine.

Use a different skin area each time you give yourself an injection. Do not inject this medicine into the same place on your body twice in a row.

Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.

Treatment with oprelvekin is usually started 6 to 24 hours after chemotherapy is completed. Your blood will then need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments..

It may take up to 21 days of using this medicine before your platelets increase. For best results, keep using the medication as directed.

Oprelvekin must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before injecting it. Do not draw your dose into a syringe until you are ready to give yourself an injection. The prepared dose must be used within 3 hours after mixing it.

Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.

Store unused oprelvekin vials and diluent syringes in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

A vial of oprelvekin should be used only once. Throw away any medicine still in the vial after mixing your dose.

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