Leukine

Leukine is a synthetic (man-made) version of a substance that is naturally produced in your body called a colony stimulating factor.

It helps the bone marrow to make new white blood cells. When certain cancer medicines are used to fight cancer cells, they also affect the white blood cells that fight infections.

Sargramostim is used to prevent or reduce the risk of infection while you are being treated with cancer medicines.

This medicine is also used to help the bone marrow recover after a bone marrow transplantation, and for a process called peripheral blood progenitor cell collection in cancer patients.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. 

Before using Leukine, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sargramostim in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in babies younger than 4months of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of sargramostim in the elderly.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below.

The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Vincristine
• Vincristine
• Sulfate
• Liposome

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Bone marrow hyperplasia:

• Should not be used. Will result to higher risk of serious side effect in patients with this condition.

Congestive heart failure or Edema (fluid retention) or Heart disease or Heart rhythm problems, history of or Hypoxia (decreased oxygen in the tissues) or Kidney disease or Liver disease or Lung disease or breathing problems or Pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart) or Pleural effusion (fluid around the lungs):

• Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

To use Leukine properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor.

A nurse or other trained health professional may give you this medicine.

Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given.

This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Before using Leukine, there are some precautions you must take.

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Tell your doctor about all the other medicines you are using, especially if you are being treated for cancer.

This medicine should not be given at the same time as chemotherapy or radiotherapy or within 24 hours before or after you receive your cancer treatment.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Leukine.

Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Abdominal pain
• black, tarry stools
• bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
• blood in eye
• bloody nose
• bloody stools
• blurred vision
• body aches or pain
• bone pain
• chest pain
• cloudy urine
• congestion
• cough
• ecrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability
• difficult or labored breathing
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• dryness or soreness of throat
• eye pain
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fatigue
• fever
• flushed, dry skin
• fruit-like breath odor
• hoarseness
• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• irregular heartbeat
• large amount of cholesterol in the blood
• loss of appetite
• mood or mental changes
• muscle spasms [tetany] or twitching seizures
• nausea or vomiting
• rapid weight gain
• redness in whites of eyes
• runny nose
• shortness of breath
• sweating tender, swollen glands in neck
• tightness in chest
• tingling of hands or feet
• trouble in swallowing
• troubled breathing
• trembling
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• unusual weight gain
• loss voice changes
• vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• wheezing
• yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• rash

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Chills
• diarrhea
• difficulty in moving
• fear or nervousness itching skin
• lack or loss of strength muscle
• pain or stiffness
• pain in joints
• sleeplessness
• trouble sleeping
• unable to sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.