Plerixafor
About Plerixafor
Plerixafor is an injectable medicine used to help collect blood-forming stem cells before an autologous stem cell transplant, a procedure in which your own stem cells are collected and later returned to your body. It is used in people with certain blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
This medicine helps move blood-forming stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they can be collected by a special machine. It is generally used together with another medicine that helps increase stem cell production, such as filgrastim.
Plerixafor is given as an injection under the skin before a planned stem cell collection. The timing is important because the medicine needs to increase the number of stem cells in the blood at the time of collection. Your healthcare team will coordinate your injections with your collection appointments.
Common side effects may include diarrhoea, nausea, headache, tiredness, and redness or swelling where the injection is given. Consult your doctor right away if you develop difficulty breathing, severe dizziness or fainting, or pain in the upper left side of your abdomen or left shoulder, as these symptoms require prompt medical assessment.
Before treatment, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, as your dose may need to be reduced. Also tell your doctor if you have leukaemia, are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding. Plerixafor is not intended for stem cell collection in people with leukaemia because leukaemia cells may also be released into the bloodstream.
Uses of Plerixafor
Medicinal Benefits
Plerixafor helps increase the number of blood-forming stem cells available in the bloodstream for collection before an autologous stem cell transplant.
- Improves stem cell collection: It helps move more stem cells into the blood, increasing the number available for collection.
- Helps reach the collection target: It may help people who have difficulty producing enough circulating stem cells collect the number needed for transplantation.
- Supports the transplant process: Collecting enough healthy blood-forming stem cells allows them to be stored and later returned to the body after treatment.
- May reduce the need for additional collection sessions: Increasing the number of stem cells in the blood may help some people reach their collection target more efficiently.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication. Typically, it is injected once a day, 11 hours prior to blood cell removal, for up to 4 days in a row.
- Plerixafor will be administered under the skin by a doctor or nurse in a medical facility.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Plerixafor
Common Side Effects (Usually Mild)
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Joint or muscle pain
- Redness, swelling, itching, or discomfort where the injection is given
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Difficulty breathing, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Severe dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting
- Pain in the upper left side of the abdomen or left shoulder, which may indicate a problem with the spleen
- Severe or unusual breathing problems
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Keep to your collection schedule: The timing of your injection is coordinated with your stem cell collection, so attend all appointments as scheduled.
- Report abdominal or shoulder pain: Consult your doctor right away if you develop pain in the upper left side of your abdomen or left shoulder, as this may indicate a problem with your spleen.
- Tell your doctor about kidney problems: Your dose may need to be reduced if your kidneys are not working normally.
- Mention a history of leukaemia: Plerixafor is not intended for stem cell mobilisation in people with leukaemia because cancerous cells may also be released from the bone marrow into the blood.
- Watch for allergic reactions: Seek medical care for difficulty breathing, swelling, hives, severe dizziness, or fainting.
- Avoid driving if you feel dizzy: Do not drive or operate machinery if the medicine makes you dizzy, light-headed, or faint.
- Keep all blood tests and collection appointments: Your healthcare team will monitor the number of stem cells in your blood and determine whether further doses or collection sessions are needed.
Drug Interactions
- Filgrastim: Plerixafor is commonly given with filgrastim to increase the number of blood-forming stem cells available for collection. This is an intended part of the treatment rather than a harmful interaction.
- Other medicines used during transplant preparation: Your healthcare team will review all medicines used before stem cell collection and transplantation to make sure they can be used safely together.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is unknown whether Plerixafor interacts with alcohol or not. Please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafePlerixafor is not recommended for use in pregnancy as it may harm your fetus. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Plerixafor. Effective birth control is necessary during treatment and for one week after your last dose.
Breast Feeding
unsafePlerixafor is not recommended if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while taking this medication and for one week after your last dose.
Driving
cautionPlerixafor is generally administered to hospitalized patients. Driving is not advised after taking this medicine.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Plerixafor. A dose adjustment may be made, or a suitable alternative may be advised based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before receiving Plerixafor. A dose adjustment may be made, or a suitable alternative may be advised based on your condition.
Children
unsafePlerixafor is not recommended for use in children as the safety and efficacy are not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay hydrated: Drink enough fluids unless your healthcare team has advised you to limit your fluid intake.
- Eat a balanced diet: Choose nutritious foods that provide enough energy and protein to support your body during transplant preparation.
- Follow food-safety advice: If your immune system is weakened, carefully follow your healthcare team's instructions for preparing, cooking, and storing food.
- Avoid strenuous activity when advised: Ask your healthcare team about exercise during stem cell mobilisation, particularly if there are concerns about enlargement of the spleen.
- Get enough rest: Stem cell mobilisation and your underlying treatment may cause tiredness, so balance daily activity with adequate rest.
Special Advise
- A blood test should be performed, such as LFT, RFT, and PFT, to check for liver function and pulmonary function.
- Weekly blood tests should be done during the treatment to check for CBC (Complete blood count).
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: Non-Hodgkin’s disease is a blood cancer that affects your lymph system. It causes the uncontrollable growth of cancer cells in the lymph nodes. The lymph system is a part of the immune system which protects your body from disease and infections. Symptoms include lymph node swelling, abdominal pain, chest pain, cough, fever, and night sweats.
Multiple myeloma: It is a type of cancerous tumour that affects the plasma cells of the bone marrow. These cells collect in the bone marrow and divide uncontrollably, leading to kidney and bone damage. Symptoms include bone pain, loss of appetite, fever, and frequent infections. Generally, multiple myeloma cannot be cured, but the signs and symptoms can be reduced greatly or disappear after a period of time.
FAQs
Plerixafor is used to treat Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin’s Disease.
Plerixafor contains Plerixafor, which works by binding to the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and inhibits the binding of its cognate ligand CXCL12.
Plerixafor may cause tumor cell mobilization and haematological effects such as increased lymphocytes, decreased platelet count, and splenic rupture in some patients. Hence, inform your oncologist about your complete medical history, including current medication, to rule out any side effects/interactions.
No. Plerixafor is used to help collect stem cells for transplantation. It is not used to kill cancer cells or directly treat the underlying cancer.
This medicine is injected under the skin before your scheduled stem cell collection. Your healthcare team will coordinate the timing of the injection with your collection procedure.
Filgrastim helps increase the production and release of blood-forming stem cells, while plerixafor helps release additional stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Using them together can increase the number of cells available for collection.
You may be able to receive it, but your dose may need to be reduced depending on how well your kidneys are working. Your doctor will assess your kidney function before deciding the appropriate dose.
Rarely, stem cell mobilisation can be associated with enlargement or rupture of the spleen. Pain in the upper left abdomen or left shoulder can be a warning sign and requires prompt medical assessment.
The number of doses depends on your stem cell collection plan and how many cells are collected. Your healthcare team will decide whether additional doses and collection sessions are needed.
Plerixafor may harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning a pregnancy. Your doctor will advise you about appropriate contraception during treatment.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Your healthcare team will advise whether breastfeeding should be stopped based on the potential risk to the baby and your treatment needs.
Some people may feel dizzy, light-headed, or tired. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience symptoms that could affect your ability to do so safely.
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