Questions about Neulastin vs. Neupogin

lnyeholt
lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I haven't been posting too much lately because I've been pretty weak with anemia, for which I'm receiving Procrit injections. I haven't had too bad a reaction to the Procrit, just achiness that is relieved with Tylenol and occasionally Ibuprofen.

My white count is also very low which lead to bronchitis, which I've also been fighting since my last treatment. I have had pretty violent reactions to just about everything so far and it was decided that, although my white count dropped immediately after my first carboplatin/taxol treatment, that due to my fibromyalgia it might be best to do Neulasta only if needed rather than as a preventative treatment.

If my white count gets any lower chemotherapy will have to be postponed so now there is no choice about stimulating white cell production. My oncologist decided that he would put me on Neulasta after my July 9 treatment but my health insurance won't cover Neulasta, only Neupogen.

Has anyone had experience with both that can give me a pro/con comparison of the two? I've heard the side effects can be horrendous but red Advil and, strangely, Claritin help relieve the bone pain the best.

Any information anyone has about either of these drugs would be very helpful, especially side effects experienced and what worked best to mitigate. My oncologist told me the side effect he encounters most frequently is elevated temperature but I'm extremely concerned by the numerous reports I read about excruciating bone pain.

Thank you in advance for your help and wisdom!

Lyn

Comments

  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #2
    Here's how my oncologist explained it to me...
    My oncologist said that the bone pain comes when the white blood cells are multiplying rapidly within the rigid and finite confines of your bones. He also said that when your bone marrow is really really depleted, there is room for the rapidly expanding white blood cells produced when you get Neulasta/Neupogin. I was only to get a Neulasta shot if I really needed it, and under those circumstances I had absolutely NO bone pain of any kind with the Neulasta shot. I think my marroww was HOLLOW; my counts were down so low!

    :D
  • rwatson579
    rwatson579 Member Posts: 5
    #3
    lindaprocopio said:

    Here's how my oncologist explained it to me...
    My oncologist said that the bone pain comes when the white blood cells are multiplying rapidly within the rigid and finite confines of your bones. He also said that when your bone marrow is really really depleted, there is room for the rapidly expanding white blood cells produced when you get Neulasta/Neupogin. I was only to get a Neulasta shot if I really needed it, and under those circumstances I had absolutely NO bone pain of any kind with the Neulasta shot. I think my marroww was HOLLOW; my counts were down so low!

    :D

    Neulasta Injections
    Hey there, sorry to hear about your low counts. I didn't have to start Neulasta injections until I was on 'maintenance chemo' (Doxil). I had low side effects with the Doxil - thankfully - but the Neulasta caused my bones to ache for two to three days. I never had to have my chemo postponed thanks to the injections that were scheduled into my normal routine cycle. :) I usually just took some Tylenol or even Ibuprofen and the pain was tolerable. I managed to work the entire time so I was very fortunate.

    Hopefully your journey will proceed with as little pain as possible.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Rhonda
  • lnyeholt
    lnyeholt Member Posts: 59
    #4
    rwatson579 said:

    Neulasta Injections
    Hey there, sorry to hear about your low counts. I didn't have to start Neulasta injections until I was on 'maintenance chemo' (Doxil). I had low side effects with the Doxil - thankfully - but the Neulasta caused my bones to ache for two to three days. I never had to have my chemo postponed thanks to the injections that were scheduled into my normal routine cycle. :) I usually just took some Tylenol or even Ibuprofen and the pain was tolerable. I managed to work the entire time so I was very fortunate.

    Hopefully your journey will proceed with as little pain as possible.

    Hugs and prayers,
    Rhonda

    Thanks Rhonda & D
    I appreciate the input!!

    After the post I found out that my insurance company doesn't give me a choice and I have to take the Neupogen. Like Rhonda says, I have achiness for a few days and the day after cramping and the need to dash to the bathroom. Not the excruciating, kill-me-now pain I was anticipating after reading posts on other sites when I Googled the meds. The only real down side is I have to self-inject a shot every day for seven days but it turns out my husband is a fabulous shot-giver since I'm way to squeamish to do it myself.

    Counts are still low but tolerable. Two more treatments to go, then I'm done with every expectation that this is it. I'm looking foreard to having energy again.

    Lyn

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