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Just like with any other medication, it is important to first discuss the potential risks and benefits of taking Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or think you might be pregnant. Your prescribing physician will be able to determine whether or not Neulasta will be safe for you to take before, during, and after pregnancy, based on your individual health profile.

Neulasta, Labor and Delivery

According to the FDA, there is not sufficient data on the effect Neulasta has on human pregnancies. There is, however, some animal data available, but precautionary measures should always be taken before deciding whether or not to proceed with treatment with Neulasta before, during, or after pregnancy.

Please note that rat studies, according to the FDA, have determined no adverse effects in regards to reproductive or developmental factors. In these studies, pregnant rats were administered doses approximately 10 times the typical human dose of pegfilgrastim. Rabbit studies showed increased embryolethality (death of the embryo due to toxicity) and spontaneous abortions when pregnant rabits were administered approximately 4 times the average human dose of pegilgrastim.

Can Neulasta cause birth defects?

There is not enough data to determine whether Neulasta can cause birth defects in human babies

Can Neulasta cause a miscarriage?

There is not enough data to determine whether Neulasta can cause a miscarriage in human babies.

Neulasta and Lactation

The FDA reports there is no human data on whether or not pegfilgrastim is present in human breast milk, and therefore, we cannot determine the potential effects this drug may have on a breastfeeding baby or on milk production. Therefore, take precaution before proceeding with treatment with Neulasta if you plan to breastfeed your baby.

The FDA also reports that other filgrastim products are not secreted well into human breast milk, nor do neonates absorb them. Though this does not officially determine whether or not Neulasta can be absorbed through breast milk, it does offer some insight into how similar drugs can be excreted in breast milk and how they can impact the breastfed baby.

If you are uncertain about whether or not you want to take Neulasta during breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about alternative medications and/or treatments available.

For more information on alternatives to Neulasta, please visit our alternatives page.

Neulasta and Fertility

There is no data on whether or not Neulasta affects human fertility. In rat studies, however, the FDA states there were no reported adverse effects on reproductive performance or fertility in either males or females who were administered weekly human doses approximately 6 to 9 times higher than the normal human dose.

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.


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