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Nivestim – also known as Filgrastim (rbe) – is a copy of a substance normally present
in your body, called Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor or G-CSF. Using gene technology,
Nivestim is produced in a specific type of bacteria, called E. coli.
G-CSF is produced in the bone marrow and assists in the production of neutrophils,
which are a type of white blood cell. Neutrophils help the body fight infections by
surrounding and destroying the bacteria that cause them. G-CSF also helps neutrophils
to do this work better.
This medicine may have been prescribed for you for one of the following reasons:
You are receiving chemotherapy for cancer
Some chemotherapy will reduce the number of white blood cells in your body. Although
Nivestim is not a treatment for cancer, it does help the body to make new neutrophils
and this will reduce your chance of developing infections that might require antibiotics
and/or hospital stays. It may even increase your chance of receiving your chemotherapy
on time and at the right dose.
You are receiving a bone marrow transplant or a stem cell transplant
Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and arise from special ‘parent’ cells,
called stem cells. Some chemotherapy has toxic effects on bone marrow, so your doctor
may choose to collect stem cells from your bone marrow or blood – or from a donor’s
bone marrow or blood – before you receive your chemotherapy. These collected stem
cells are then stored and may be given back to you later, to replace those lost during
chemotherapy. This procedure is called a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
There are normally only a small number of stem cells in your blood; Nivestim is typically
used to increase this number before stem cell collection. You may also receive Nivestim
after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, to help speed up your recovery.
You are donating stem cells for another person
If you are aged between 16 and 60 years and have volunteered to donate your stem cells
for another person, Nivestim may be used to increase the number of stem cells in your
blood before they are collected. Your stem cells can then be given to a patient after
he/she has received their chemotherapy.
You are suffering from severe chronic neutropenia
Severe chronic neutropenia is a disease in which the body does not make enough neutrophils,
increasing your risk of fever and/or infection. Nivestim helps the body to make and
maintain the right number of infection-fighting neutrophils, decreasing the risk of
infection and the need for antibiotics and/or hospital stays.
You are receiving medicines for HIV infection
Some medicines used to treat HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) infection, or its
complications, can reduce the number of infection-fighting neutrophils in your blood.
Your doctor may prescribe Nivestim if the number of neutrophils falls too low.
By boosting your neutrophil count, Nivestim will improve your body’s ability to fight
infection and may increase your chance of receiving the full dose of some of your
HIV medicines. Nivestim is not a treatment for HIV infection.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Nivestim has been prescribed for
you
This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
There is limited experience with the use of Nivestim in children. Your doctor will
discuss the risks and benefits of using it in children.
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