As is the case with any other medication, there may be some instances where Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) use is not recommended or usage will have to be adjusted in order to prevent or reduce the risk of negative interactions occurring from other drugs, medical conditions, or even food and drink.
Drug Interactions
According to the FDA, drugs that may interact with Neulasta include the following.
- No major drug interactions listed
- Neulasta may interact with other medications see below
Please note that this list may not be complete, and other interactions with drugs not listed here may occur. For example, patients should not take this medication 14 days (2 weeks) before and within 24 hours after undergoing their next round of chemotherapy.
Neulasta and Claritin
Bone pain is a potential side effect of Neulasta. Research suggests that loratadine (Claritin) use before receiving an injection of pegfilgrastim may help reduce the odds of this side effect. Experts believe this event occurs because loratadine blocks the release of inflammatory histamines, which experts believe may lead to potentially painful swelling of bone marrow. Patients should check with their doctor if this option is right for them.
Neulasta and Radiation Therapy
Experts have not studied Neulasta use in patients also receiving radiation therapy.
Neulasta and Neupogen
Neupogen is a brand name of filgrastim. Unlike Neulasta, patients receive several injections each treatment cycle. Patients should not take both filgrastim and pegfilgrastim at the same time.
Pegfilgrastim and Filgrastim
Pegfilgrastim is the PEGylated form of filgrastim, and it has a much longer half-life so that it can deliver effects over a longer period of time. It is not recommended that patients use these medications at the same time.
Bevacizumab and Pegfilgrastim
A phase III, double-blind trial found that pegfilgrastim helped reduce the rates of febrile neutropenia for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who were also receiving bevacizumab and chemotherapy treatments.
Food Interactions
Sometimes the foods we eat and the beverages we drink can also interact with our medications. Food and drink that may interact with Neulasta include:
- No major food interactions listed
Please note that this list may not be complete, and there may be other foods and beverages that interact with this drug.
Neulasta and Alcohol
For more information, please visit our page on Neulasta and alcohol interactions.
Disease & Conditions Interactions
Sometimes certain medications can increase the risk of negative side effects for patients with certain diseases or other medical conditions. According to the FDA, diseases and medical conditions that are known to negatively interact with Neulasta include:
- People who are allergic to pegfilgrastim
- People who are allergic to filgrastim
- Those who are hypersensitive to Neulasta or any of its components
- People with a history of allergic reactions to other drugs in Neulasta’s class (human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors)
Please note that this list may not be complete, and there may be other diseases and medical conditions where patients should not take this drug.
Neulasta and Pregnancy
For more information, please visit our page on Neulasta and pregnancy risks.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
