Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is a hemopoietic drug developed by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration and initially approved in 1991 for treating Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor is used to treat chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (a condition caused by abnormally low levels of neutrophils), fever and infection. Chemotherapy often leads to a drop in white blood cell counts, making patients susceptible to infections. This drug mainly helps to mitigate this risk by stimulating the production of white blood cells, reducing the chances of infection and treatment interruptions.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor can be administered subcutaneously (under the skin) or intravenously (into a vein). The choice of administration method depends on the specific medical condition and treatment plan.

The side effects known to occur commonly during the treatment with Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor are nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, decreased platelet, red blood cell count, diarrhea, unusual hair loss, troubled sleeping, inflammation of the lung, loss of appetite, constipation, pain when passing urine, muscle spasm, and nosebleeds. Some serious side effects include sudden signs of allergy (rash, itching, swelling of lips, tongue, wheezing), acute respiratory syndrome (cough, fever together with troubled breathing), enlargement of the spleen (pain in the upper left belly, pain below the left rib cage, pain at the tip of the shoulder), blood poisoning (combination of very cold, high heart rate, confusion, shortness of breath, sweaty skin, and extreme pain), capillary leak syndrome (puffiness, abdominal swelling, and feeling of fullness, difficulty breathing, and tiredness), and kidney injury (puffiness in face or ankles, blood in urine or brown-colored urine).

If your WBC decreases, your body may not have enough cells to combat bacteria, putting you at risk of infection. Inform your physician if you have or had liver disease, kidney problems, sickle cell anemia or bone disease.

Common side effects include fever, pain, rash, cough, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity or allergy to it or its component. 

Individuals should monitor their temperature regularly, as Granulocyte colony stimulating factor can increase the risk of fever and infection. Notify your physician if a fever develops. Include a balanced diet rich in nutrients to support the immune system. If appetite is affected, consider consulting a nutritionist for dietary recommendations.

1. Amgen Europe BV, Electronic medicines compendium (EMC), [ Revised on July 2022] [ Accessed on 2 Sep 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3000.pdf
2. Amgen, US Food and Drug Administration, [ Revised on March 2015] [Accessed on 2 Sep 2023], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/103353s5183lbl.pdf
3. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Anticancer drugs, 7th edition, 2013, 876.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice; it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.