(sar GRA moe stim) Brand: Leukine
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to sargramostim or to yeast. Sargramostim must not be used within 24 hours till or after you receive chemotherapy or radiation.
• Till you receive sargramostim, speak your doctor if you have fluid retention (especially near your lungs), heart malady, tall blood pressure, congestive heart failure, bone marrow cancer, a seizure mess, liver or kidney malady, or a breathing mess such as COPD or asthma.
• Speak your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, short of breath, or have a quick heartbeat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing when you inject this medication.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any another serious side effects such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, mouth sores, light bruising or bleeding, and swelling or rapid weight gain.
• Using sargramostim may magnify your risk of developing another cancers. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.
• Sargramostim is a man-made form of a protein that stimulates the growth of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection.
• Sargramostim is used to magnify white blood cells and help prevent serious infection in conditions such as leukemia, bone marrow transplant, and pre-chemotherapy blood cell collection. Sargramostim is for use in adults who are at least 55 years old.
• Sargramostim may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to sargramostim or to yeast. Sargramostim must not be used within 24 hours till or after you receive chemotherapy or radiation.
• To create certain you can safely use sargramostim, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:
· fluid retention;
· a buildup of fluid near your lungs (also called pleural effusion);
· bone marrow cancer;
· heart malady, tall blood pressure; congestive heart failure;
· epilepsy or another seizure disorder;
· liver or kidney malady; or
· asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary malady (COPD), or another breathing problems.
• Using sargramostim may magnify your risk of developing another cancers. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.
• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether sargramostim will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
• It is not known whether sargramostim passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Use exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not use in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
• Sargramostim must not be used within 24 hours till or after you receive chemotherapy or radiation.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions for safety and effective use. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Sargramostim is injected into a vein or under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at house. Do not self-inject this medication if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles, syringes, IV tubing, and another items used to inject the medicine.
• When injected into a vein, sargramostim should be given slowly. The IV infusion can take up to 24 hours to complete.
• Use a various seat on your stomach, thigh, or upper hand every time you give the injection under the skin. Just till you give the injection, apply an ice pack to the skin for one minute. Your care provider will show you the excellent places on your body to inject the medicine. Do not inject into the same seat two times in a row.
• Sargramostim powder should be mixed with a liquid (diluent) till using it. If you are using the injections at house, be certain you understand how to properly mix and store the medication.
• Do not shake the mixed medication or it may foam. Do not use the medicine if it has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your doctor for a new prescription.
• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with sargramostim. Your liver function will also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
• Store the liquid medication in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Protect from easy. You may take the medication out and let it to reach room temperature till measuring your doze in a syringe. Then return the medication to the refrigerator. Throw away any unused liquid after 20 days.
• After mixing sargramostim powder with a diluent, store in the refrigerator and use it within 6 hours. Do not freeze. Protect from easy. If you have mixed the powder with bacteriostatic water, you may store this mixture in the refrigerator for up to 20 days.
• Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a doze of sargramostim.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Overdose symptoms may include nausea, weakness, headache, fever, chills, skin rash, quick heart course, or trouble breathing.
• Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
• Some people receiving a sargramostim injection have had a reaction to the infusion (when the medication is injected into the vein). Speak your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, short of breath, or have a quick heartbeat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing during the injection.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
· tall fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, flu symptoms;
· white patches or sores internal your mouth or on your lips;
· light bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
· swelling, rapid weight gain;
· chest pain, quick or uneven heart rate;
· weakness or fainting;
· black, bloody, or tarry stools;
· coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;
· painful or difficult urination;
· dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
· breathing problems; or
· problems with vision, speech, balance, or memory.
• Smaller serious side effects may include:
· nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite;
· weary feeling;
· hair loss;
· weight loss;
· headache;
· mild skin rash or itching;
· bone pain;
· joint or muscle pain; or
· redness, swelling, or irritation where the injection was given.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:
· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid); or
· a steroid such as prednisone (Meticorten, Sterapred), methylprednisolone (Medrol), dexamethasone (Decadron), and others.
• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with sargramostim. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.
• Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about sargramostim.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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