Epoetin alfa: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Epoetin Alfa?

What is epoetin alfa for?

This drug is commonly used to treat anemia in patients with severe long-term kidney disease (chronic kidney failure), patients using zidovudine to treat HIV, and patients who are taking chemotherapy for certain types of cancer (non-myeloid cancer). This medicine may also be given to anemic patients to reduce the need for blood transfusions before certain surgeries who are at risk of heavy blood loss (usually in combination with the blood thinner, warfarin). This drug works by signaling the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. This medication is very similar to a natural substance in your body, erythropoietin, which prevents anemia.

How to use epoetin alfa?

This medication is given by injection under the skin or into a vein and is usually given 1 to 3 times a week or as directed by your doctor. Especially for hemodialysis patients, they must receive an injection of this drug into a vein.

Don't shake this medicine bottle. Before starting treatment, check the packaging of this product to see if there are particles or discoloration. If you find particles or see a change in the color of the product, do not use this medication. If you are injecting this drug under the skin, change the injection area each time to avoid the risk of infection under the skin.

Learn the safe and correct way to store and dispose of needles and medical supplies safely, for explanation, you can consult your pharmacist.

Dosage is based on your medical condition, body weight, and response to treatment. Blood tests should be done frequently to check how well this medication is working and to determine the right dose for you. Consult your doctor for more details.

Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often than directed by your doctor. Take this medicine regularly to get optimal benefits. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time each day.
It usually takes 2-6 weeks before your red blood cell count increases. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.

How do you store epoetin alfa?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Epoetin Alfa dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of epoetin alfa for adults?

Adult Dose for Anemia Associated with Zidovudine

Initial dose: 100 units / kg subcutaneously or infusion 3 times a week.

Adult Dose for Chemotherapy-Related Anemia

Initial dose: 150 units / kg subcutaneously 3 times a week or 40,000 units subcutaneously once a week until chemotherapy is complete.

Give this drug to cancer chemotherapy patients only if the patient's hemoglobin is less than 10 g / dL, and if there is at least two months of additional chemotherapy.

Use the lowest dose to avoid RBC transfusions.

Adult Dose for Anemia Associated with Chronic Renal Failure

50 to 100 units / kg subcutaneously or infusion 3 times a week.

Intravenous administration of drugs is recommended for hemodialysis patients.

Adult Dose for Anemia After Surgery

Patients with hemoglobin above 10 or less than or equal to 13 g / dL are scheduled to undergo elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery to reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusions: 300 units / kg / day subcutaneously for 10 days before and on the day of surgery, also 4 days after surgery for a total of 14 days of therapy.
Alternative dosing schedule: 600 units / kg subcutaneous dose weekly (21, 14, and 7 days before surgery) plus a fourth dose on the day of surgery.

What is the dose of epoetin alfa for children?

Child Dose for Zidovudine-Related Anemia

Infants and children 8 months to 17 years of age: Data available are not limited; doses ranging from 50 to 400 units / kg are given 2 to 3 times / week. If patients are not getting enough of the 300 unit / kg dose 3 times a week, they usually will not ask for a higher dose.

Child dosage for chemotherapy-related anemia

Infants and children 6 months to 18 years of age: Reported doses are from 25 to 300 units / kg 3 to 7 times a week.

Manufacturer's recommendation: Initial dose: By intravenous only: 600 units / kg weekly (not to exceed 40,000 units / week); can be increased to 900 units / kg weekly (not to exceed 60,000 units / week). Use caution when considering this dose for subcutaneous administration as it has been shown to produce side effects at doses 30% to 50% lower than intravenous administration.

Dose reduction by 25% when hemoglobin has reached the level required to avoid transfusion or increases greater than 1 g / dL at two weeks. Increase dose by 25% if sufficient targets have not been achieved and maintain a low hemoglobin level sufficient to avoid red blood cell transfusions.

Child Dose for Anemia Associated with Chronic Renal Failure

Initial dose for infants, children and adolescents: 50 units / kg, intravenously or subcutaneously, 3 times a week. Increase dose by 25% if hemoglobin is less than 10 g / dL and has not increased by 1 g / dL after 4 weeks of therapy or if hemoglobin has decreased below 10 g / dL. In hemodialysis patients, intravenous administration is recommended.

Child dosage for anemia

The safety and efficacy of this drug in children have not been established. However, the use of this drug is allowed in certain situations.
Anemia due to prematurity: Dose: 500-1250 units / kg / week for 10 doses divided into 2 to 5 doses; Usual dosage: 250 units / kg / dose 3 times a week; supplement with iron therapy 3-8 mg / kg / day.

In what dosage is epoetin alfa available?

Solution, Injection: 10,000 units / mL (2 mL), 20,000 units / mL (1 mL)

Solution, Injection: 2000 units / mL (1 mL), 3000 units / mL (1 mL), 4000 units / mL (1 mL), 10,000 units / mL (1 mL).

Epoetin Alfa side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to epoetin alfa?

Side effects that often occur are hypertension, headaches, joint pain, nausea, edema, fatigue and diarrhea.

Seek medical help if you experience signs of an allergic reaction such as hives. hard to breath; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor if you feel weak, dizzy, and short of breath, or if your skin looks pale. These may be signs that your body has stopped responding to this drug.

This medicine may increase your risk of heart disease or circulation problems that could harm you, including a heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the time to use this drug. Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as:

• chest pain or a feeling of heaviness, pain that radiates to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, feeling of ache in the body
• feeling short of breath, even doing something light
• swelling, rapid weight gain
• sudden numbness or feeling weak, especially on one side of the body
• sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs.

Stop using this drug if you experience signs of the following serious side effects:

• feel dizzy, faint
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in mouth and throat
• pale skin, feeling short of breath, fast heart rate, difficulty concentrating
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding from your nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum, purple or red spots under your skin;
• convulsions, unconsciousness
• low potassium (confusion, irregular heartbeat, extreme thirst, increased urination, discomfort in the legs, muscle weakness or a feeling of weakness)
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeat, seizures).

Less serious side effects include:

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat
• joint pain, bone pain
• muscle pain, muscle spasms
• dizziness, depression, lightheadedness
• weight loss
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
• pain or tenderness in the area where the medicine was injected

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and Cautions for Epoetin Alfa

What should be known before using epoetin alfa?

Before starting treatment, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to epoetin alfa, any of these ingredients, or any other medications.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you are taking along with any vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or want to take. Your doctor may change the dose to monitor for side effects.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had a history of high blood pressure and if you have ever had pure red blood cell aplasia (a severe type of anemia that occurs after treatment with this medicine such as darbepoetin alfa injection or epoetin alfa injection). Your doctor may forbid you to use this drug

Tell your doctor if you are sick or have had a history of seizures. If you are taking this medication to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, tell your doctor if you have or have had cancer.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, are in the process of becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking the medicine, contact your doctor.

If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are currently using this medicine.

Is epoetin alfa safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

There is not yet sufficient information about the safety of using this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

Epoetin Alfa Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with epoetin alfa?

Although there are certain drugs that should not be used together with this drug, in other cases two different drugs can be used together even if an interaction is possible. In this case, your doctor may want to change the dose, or take other precautions that may be needed.

Can food or alcohol interact with epoetin alfa?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with epoetin alfa?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• severe aluminum poisoning
• severe bleeding
• blood disorders (thalassemia, myelodysplastic syndrome)
• bone problems
• deficiency of folic acid, iron, or vitamin B12
• Infection, inflammation, or cancer
• metabolic disorders Porphyrin (red blood cell pigment)
• Sickle cell anemia (Epoetin) may not work properly
• never had a history of blood clotting disease or other problems with blood
• congestive heart failure
• heart attack, or history
• heart bypass surgery
• heart or blood vessel disease
• seizures, or a history
• stroke, or history
• thrombosis, or at risk. Possible side effects can arise.
• cancer, history. May cause some tumors to come back.
• hypertension, uncontrolled
• rare bone marrow disease. Should not be given to patients with this condition.

Epoetin Alfa overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you miss a dose of epoetin alfa injection. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.