Pronunciation: sar-GRA-moe-stim
Generic Name: Sargramostim
Brand Name: Leukine
Sargramostim is used for:
Reducing severe, life-threatening, or fatal infections after chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It is also used to help increase the success of autologous bone marrow transplant and to help increase survival in patients who have bone marrow transplant failure. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Sargramostim is a hematopoietic agent. It works by stimulating production of white blood cells in bone marrow.
Do NOT use Sargramostim if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Sargramostim or to yeast products
- you have certain bone marrow disorders
- you have received chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the last 24 hours or you will be receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the next 24 hours
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Sargramostim:
Some medical conditions may interact with Sargramostim. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have other types of cancer or unusual growths or tumors
- if you have a history of fluid retention, irregular heartbeat, heart disease or congestive heart failure, a lung disorder or breathing problems, or liver or kidney problems
- if you are undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Sargramostim. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Corticosteroids (eg, prednisone) or lithium because they may increase the risk of Sargramostim's side effects
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Sargramostim may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Sargramostim:
Use Sargramostim as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Sargramostim is usually given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using Sargramostim at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use Sargramostim. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Do not shake Sargramostim.
- Do not use Sargramostim if it contains particles, is cloudy or discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged.
- Continue using Sargramostim for the full course of treatment unless your doctor directs otherwise.
- Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
- If you miss a dose of Sargramostim, contact your doctor right away.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Sargramostim.
Important safety information:
- The first dose of Sargramostim may cause difficulty breathing, flushing, fainting, or fast or irregular heartbeat. These signs usually resolve and usually do not occur again. Contact your doctor for more information.
- Sargramostim may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Sargramostim with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Diabetes patients - Sargramostim may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, blood counts, body weight, and fluid and electrolyte tests, may be performed while you use Sargramostim. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Sargramostim may have benzyl alcohol in it. Do not use it in NEWBORNS or INFANTS. It may cause serious and sometimes fatal nervous system problems and other side effects.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking Sargramostim, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Sargramostim while you are pregnant. It is not known if Sargramostim is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Sargramostim, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Sargramostim:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Bone, muscle, or joint pain; diarrhea; fever; general feeling of discomfort; hair loss; headache; loss of appetite; mild sweating of the hands, ankles, legs, or feet; nausea; sore mouth; stomach pain; vomiting; weakness.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); anxiety; black or tarry stools; blood in urine; chest pain; emotional or mood changes; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; severe or persistent fever; severe stomach pain; severe swelling of the hands, ankles, legs, or feet; shortness of breath; unusual or excessive bleeding; unusual swelling; vomiting blood.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Sargramostim side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org ), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chills; fast or irregular heartbeat; rash; severe or persistent fever, discomfort, headache, or nausea; shortness of breath.
Proper storage of Sargramostim:
Sargramostim is usually handled and stored by a health care provider. If you are using Sargramostim at home, store Sargramostim as directed by your pharmacist or health care provider. Keep Sargramostim out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Sargramostim, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Sargramostim is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Sargramostim. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Sargramostim resources
- Sargramostim Side Effects (in more detail)
- Sargramostim Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Sargramostim Drug Interactions
- Sargramostim Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Sargramostim - Add your own review/rating
- Sargramostim Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Sargramostim Monograph (AHFS DI)
- sargramostim Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Leukine Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Leukine Consumer Overview
Compare Sargramostim with other medications
- Aplastic Anemia
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Bone Marrow Transplantation, Failure or Engraftment Delay
- Bone Marrow Transplantation, Myeloid Reconstruction
- Neutropenia Associated with Chemotherapy
