Tbo-Filgrastim (Granix) Injection: What you need to know about this medicine

Are you undergoing chemotherapy for cancer ? Then you must have felt like you were constantly getting infections, right? This is actually something that happens to many people. The main reason for this is that cancer treatment reduces the number of white blood cells in our body that fight diseases . Today, we are going to talk about a very important medicine that helps with that problem.

What is Tbo-Filgrastim?

Simply put, Tbo-Filgrastim is like a key soldier in our body's immune system. This medicine belongs to a group of drugs called ``Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor''. To be precise, what this medicine does is go to our bone marrow and give it a little 'signal'. That signal says, "Okay, get to work now, we need more fighters."

Those fighters are a special type of white blood cell called neutrophils . These neutrophils are the ones who primarily fight germs like bacteria and viruses that enter our bodies.

Now, when you are given chemotherapy, those drugs can kill not only cancer cells , but also our healthy cells that divide rapidly, especially the cells that make neutrophils in the bone marrow. Then the number of neutrophils decreases significantly. In medical terms, we call this condition 'severe neutropenia' . What Tbo-Filgrastim injection does is to reduce the time when those neutrophils are low as much as possible and protect you from the risk of developing infections. This medicine is also known by the brand name ` Granix `.

Things to tell your doctor before starting medication

Before deciding if this medication is right for you, your doctor will need to know a complete history of your health condition. Therefore, be sure to tell him or her about the following:

• If you are going to have a bone scan soon.
• If you have a kidney disease .
• If you have a condition called 'Sickle cell anemia' .
• If you have previously had an allergic reaction to this medicine (tbo-filgrastim) or similar medicines (filgrastim, pegfilgrastim) or any other medicine, food, or dye.
• If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant .
• If you are a mother who is breastfeeding a child .

How to use the medicine?

This is an injection under the skin. It is usually given in a hospital or clinic. But sometimes, you may have to inject this medicine yourself at home. If so, don't worry. Your doctor or nursing staff will show you the correct way to do it, from preparing the medicine to giving it to you. Also read the instructions that come with the medicine package carefully.

A few important points

• Disposing of needles: Never throw used needles and syringes in the trash . They are very dangerous. They should be placed in a special sharps container. If you don't have one, you can get one from your doctor or hospital.
• If giving this medicine to children: If giving this medicine to young children, you should talk to a pediatrician about it. In some special cases, it can be given to a baby as young as one month old, but with great caution and under special medical supervision.
• In case of overdose: If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Otherwise, go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital without delay.

Side effects and other things to consider

As with any medication, there are some side effects that can occur when taking this medication. Some are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.

Other important points

• What if I miss a dose? It is very important to take this medicine exactly as it is supposed to be taken. If you miss a dose, call your doctor immediately for advice.
• Other medications: Tell your doctor if you are taking medications such as lithium . Also, give your doctor a complete list of all medications you are taking (including vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbs).
• Blood tests: Your doctor will order blood tests to monitor your blood cell counts while you are taking this medication. It is important to get these tests done on time and without skipping them.
• Storage: Store in the refrigerator at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius . Protect from light and keep in the original carton. Discard unused medicine if it has been out of the refrigerator for more than 5 days. Do not use expired medicine.