Chemocare.com
Care During Chemotherapy and Beyond
Generic Name: Romiplostim
Romiplostim is the generic name for the trade name drug Nplate. In some cases,
health care professionals may use the trade name Nplate when referring to the generic
drug name Romiplostim.
Drug Type:
Nplate is a biologic response modifier.
It is classified as a colony stimulating factor. (For more detail, see "How
this drug works" section below).
What Nplate Is Used For:
- Nplate is used for the treatment of thrombocytopenia
(low platelets) in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenia purpura
(ITP) who have had insufficient response to corticosteroids, immune globulin, or
splenectomy.
- Nplate is not indicated to normalize platelet counts.
Note: If a drug has been approved
for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they
believe it may be helpful. However, Nplate is
administered through the NEXUS program, which requires monitoring of the efficacy
and use of Nplate on a periodic basis. NEXUS will also determine if the cost
of Nplate is covered by insurers, and it may not be for uses outside of the
approved indication (ITP)
How Nplate Is Given:
- Nplate may be given by subcutaneous (the layer between the skin and muscle)
injection.
- The amount of Nplate that you will receive depends on many factors, including
your height and weight, and your general health or other health problems. Your doctor
will determine your exact dosage and schedule.
Side Effects:
Important things
to remember about the side effects of Nplate:
- Most people do not experience the side effects listed.
- Side effects are often predictable in terms of their onset, duration, and severity.
- Side effects are almost always reversible and will go away after therapy is complete.
- There are many options to minimize or prevent side effects.
- There is no relationship between the presence or severity of side effects and the
effectiveness of the medication.
- Many of the side effects observed in patients taking Nplate occurred at a rate
similar to patients taking placebo.
The following side effects are common
(occurring in greater than 30%) for patients taking Nplate:
- Headache
- fatigue
- Coughing up blood
These side effects are less common
side effects (occurring in about 10-29%) of patients receiving Nplate:
- Joint pain (arthralgia)
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Pain in extremity
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Upper respiratory infection
Another side effect that is uncommon, and likely occurs
in less than 10% of patients treated with Nplate is bone marrow fibrosis. This
involves the deposition of scar-type tissue called reticulin in the bone marrow.
Your doctor should monitor you for this potential complication by looking at your
blood under the microscope periodically. If specific changes occur in the blood,
or if you lose your responsiveness to Nplate, a bone marrow biopsy may be needed
to evaluate for reticulin fibrosis. All cases of reticulin fibrosis have been reversed
or stabilized upon discontinuation of the drug, and no progressive instances of
bone marrow fibrosis have been seen.
In patients with hematologic malignancies, there is
a theoretical risk that the use of Nplate could speed the progression of the
underlying disease, though this is unproven at present.
You should
always inform your health care provider if you experience any unusual symptoms.
When to contact your doctor or health care provider:
Contact your health care provider immediately,
day or night, if you should experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever of 100.4° F (38° C) or higher, chills (possible
signs of infection)
- Shortness of breath
- Bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure
for a few minutes
The following symptoms require medical attention,
but are not an emergency. Contact your health care provider within 24 hours
of noticing any of the following:
- Nausea (interferes with ability to eat and unrelieved with prescribed medication)
- Vomiting (vomiting more than 4-5 times in a 24 hour period)
- Diarrhea (4-6 episodes in a 24-hour period)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Black or tarry stools, or blood in your stools
- Blood in the urine
- Pain or burning with urination
- Extreme fatigue (unable to carry on self-care activities)
Always inform your health care provider if you
experience any unusual symptoms.
Precautions:
- Before starting Nplate treatment, make sure
you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including
prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc.).
Do not take aspirin, products containing aspirin unless your doctor specifically
permits this.
- Do not receive any kind of immunization or vaccination
without your doctor’s approval while taking Nplate.
- Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior
to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category C (use in pregnancy only when
benefit to mother outweighs risk to fetus.
- For both men and women: Use contraceptives, and
do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking Nplate. Barrier methods of contraception,
such as condoms, are recommended. Discuss with your doctor when you may safely
become pregnant or conceive a child after therapy.
- Do not breast feed while taking Nplate.
Self-Care Tips:
- You may experience joint or muscle pain as a result of this medication. Ask
your healthcare provider if you may take a mild pain medicine to relieve this.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help.
- Ask your doctor before engaging in contact sports or activities that could cause
injury.
- If you experience nausea, take anti-nausea medications as prescribed by your doctor,
and eat small, frequent meals.
- Avoid sun exposure. Wear SPF 15 (or higher) sunblock and protective clothing.
- In general, drinking alcoholic beverages should be kept to a minimum or avoided
completely. You should discuss this with your doctor.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Maintain good nutrition.
- If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health
care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are
effective in managing such problems.
Monitoring and Testing:
You will be checked regularly by your doctor while
you are taking Nplate, to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy. Regular
blood work will be obtained to monitor your complete blood count (CBC). Periodic
blood work may be done to assess the function of other organs (such as your
kidneys and liver).
How Nplate Works:
Colony-Stimulating Factors:
In the body's bone marrow (the soft, sponge-like material found inside bones) blood
cells are produced. There are three major types of blood cells; white blood
cells, which fight infection; red blood cells, which carry oxygen to and remove
waste products from organs and tissues; and platelets, which enable the blood to
clot. Colony-stimulating factors are substances that stimulate the production
of blood cells and promote their ability to function.
Nplate is a growth factor that stimulates
platelet production via the thrombopoietin receptor.
Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with
your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments.
The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational,
but is not a substitute for medical advice.
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