Sargramostim is a man-made form of a protein that stimulates the growth of white blood cells in your body. White blood cells help your body fight against infection.

Sargramostim is used to increase white blood cells and help prevent serious infection in conditions such as leukemia, bone marrow transplant, and pre-chemotherapy blood cell collection. Sargramostim is for use in adults who are at least 55 years old.

Sargramostim may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sargramostim or to yeast. Sargramostim should not be used within 24 hours before or after you receive chemotherapy or radiation.

Before you receive sargramostim, tell your doctor if you have fluid retention (especially around your lungs), heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, bone marrow cancer, a seizure disorder, liver or kidney disease, or a breathing disorder such as COPD or asthma.

Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, short of breath, or have a fast heartbeat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing when you inject this medication.

Call your doctor at once if you have any other serious side effects such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, mouth sores, easy bruising or bleeding, and swelling or rapid weight gain.

Using sargramostim may increase your risk of developing other cancers. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to sargramostim or to yeast. Sargramostim should not be used within 24 hours before or after you receive chemotherapy or radiation.

To make sure you can safely use sargramostim, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• fluid retention;

• a buildup of fluid around your lungs (also called pleural effusion);

• bone marrow cancer;

• heart disease, high blood pressure; congestive heart failure;

• epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

• liver or kidney disease; or

• asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other breathing problems.

Using sargramostim may increase your risk of developing other cancers. Ask your doctor about your individual risk.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether sargramostim will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether sargramostim passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.