Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml belongs to the class of medicine called 'hematopoietic agent' used to treat neutropenia, a lack of certain white blood cells caused by cancer, bone marrow transplant, receiving chemotherapy, bacterial infections or other conditions. Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood is decreased. White blood cells (neutrophils) protect the body from infections. Without enough neutrophils, the body can not fight off bacteria which increases the risk of many types of infections.

Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml contains ' Filgrastim ' that stimulates the bone marrow (the tissue where new blood cells are made) to produce more white blood cells that help fight infection. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml is used to improve white blood cells during cancer treatment (chemotherapy), bone marrow transplantation, severe chronic neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells), neutropenia in patients with HIV infection, and before stem cell donation.

You are advised to take Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience certain common side effects such as thrombocytopenia (low platelets level), anaemia (low red blood cell), headache, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, alopecia (unusual hair loss), tiredness, soreness, swelling of the digestive tract, fever. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.

To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml for as long as your doctor has prescribed. To avoid recurring symptoms, do not stop it midway. Do not take Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers unless prescribed. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml should be given to children under strict medical supervision. Please tell your doctor before using Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml if you have sickle cell anaemia, as Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml may cause sickle cell crisis and osteoporosis (bone disease). Regular blood tests will be taken to monitor the number of white blood cells in the body. Inform your doctor about your health condition and medicines to rule out unpleasant side effects. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml is a cold chain medicine, and so it has to be stored in the refrigerator between 2-8 degrees celsius else its efficacy might get lost. Do not store in the freezer or the fridge.

Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml contains ‘Filgrastim’ is a white blood cell growth factor. It belongs to a group of proteins called cytokines and is very similar to a natural protein (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) produced by your body. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml works by stimulating the bone marrow (the tissue where new blood cells are made) to produce more white blood cells that help fight infection. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml is used to improve white blood cells during cancer treatment (chemotherapy), bone marrow transplantation, severe chronic neutropenia (low number of a type of white blood cells), neutropenia in patients with HIV infection and before stem cell donation.

• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets level)
• Anaemia (low red blood cell)
• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Alopecia (unusual hair loss)
• Tiredness
• Soreness and swelling of the digestive tract
• Fever

Do not take Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml if you are allergic to Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml or any of its ingredients it may contain inactive ingredients (such as dry natural rubber/latex in the needle cover on the prefilled syringe), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Before starting treatment with Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml, inform your doctor if you have sickle cell anaemia, osteoporosis (bone disease), kidney disease, liver disease, spleen problems, heart problems, and radiation treatment. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml can cause the spleen to become enlarged, and it could rupture (tear). Inform your doctor right away if you have sudden or severe pain in your left upper stomach spreading up to your shoulder. If you receive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant, do not use Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml within 24 hours before or 24 hours after you receive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant.  Do not take Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by the doctor. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml can be given safely to children only when prescribed. Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml may cause dizziness, so drive only if you are alert. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml as it could lead to increased drowsiness. Keep your doctor informed about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription, non-prescription medicines and herbal supplements. 

Drug-Drug Interaction: Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml may have interaction with other hematopoietic agents (pegfilgrastim), medicines used to treat cancer (altretamine, bendamustine, carboplatin, busulfan, cladribine, alemtuzumab, bevacizumab, dinutuximab, gemtuzumab, procarbazine, dacarbazine. ) 

Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml as it may increase dizziness and side effects.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml may cause interactions with disease conditions such as leukocytosis (high levels of white blood cells), sepsis (a life-threatening complication of an infection), glomerulonephritis (kidney impairment), thrombocytopenia (low number of platelets in the blood), have any unusual bleeding or bruising liver dysfunction, myeloid tumours (a solid composed of immature white blood cells), sickle cell disease (red blood cells to become misshapen and break down).

• ALTRETAMINE
• BUSULFAN
• CLADRIBINE
• PROCARBAZINE
• PEGFILGRASTIM
• DACARBAZINE
• GEMTUZUMAB
• DINUTUXIMAB
• BEVACIZUMAB
• ALEMTUZUMAB
• CARBOPLATIN
• BENDAMUSTINE

• Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet, as it helps you to recover quickly. A dietitian will help you to create a diet plan based on your health condition. 

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked food. 

• Eat food rich in antioxidants such as berries, spinach, kidney beans, dark chocolate, etc.

• Foods containing flavonoids help in reducing inflammation. These include soy, berries, broccoli, grapes, and green tea.

• Limit alcohol consumption and quit smoking. 

• Constantly monitors the number of blood cells in your blood, and your bone density level while you are receiving treatment with Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml.

• Do not take any kind of immunization or vaccination without your doctor's approval while using Apligraf 300 mcg Injection 0.5 ml.

Neutropenia is a condition in which the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood is decreased. White blood cells (neutrophils) protect the body from infections. Without enough neutrophils, the body can not fight off bacteria which increases the risk of many types of infections. It can be caused by diseases that damage the bone marrow like cancer chemotherapy, HIV or AIDS, infections or deficiencies in vitamins or minerals, such as vitamin B12, folate, or copper, and autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Severe chronic neutropenias arise from the failure of the bone marrow to produce adequate numbers of neutrophils that circulate in the blood. It appears that patients with severe chronic neutropenias are at greater risk of developing leukaemia (blood cancer) than are other people.