Procrit (epoetin alfa) is a glycoprotein that stimulates red blood cell production used to treat anemia associated with kidney failure, HIV patients undergoing treatment, cancer patients undergoing therapy, and certain surgical patients. Common side effects of Procrit are: high blood pressure (hypertension), headache,
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| Adverse reaction | PROCRIT®–treated patients (n=168) | Placebo–treated patients (n=165) |
|---|---|---|
| Thrombosis | 5% | 3% |
Are there any side effects to taking Procrit?
Along with its needed effects, epoetin alfa (the active ingredient contained in Procrit) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking epoetin alfa:
Why is Procrit used to treat anemia?
This protein may be reduced when you have kidney failure or use certain medications. When fewer red blood cells are produced, you can develop a condition called anemia. Procrit is used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy or chronic kidney disease, or anemia caused by taking zidovudine to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
Can I give Procrit to a baby?
Do not use Procrit from a multi-dose vial when giving medicine to a baby. The multi-dose vial contains an ingredient that can cause serious side effects or death in very young infants or premature babies.
How should Procrit be stored and used?
Procrit is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include a special diet. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely. Store in the refrigerator and protect from light. Do not freeze Procrit, and throw away the medication if it has become frozen. Each single-use Procrit vial (bottle) of this medicine is for one use only.
Who should not take PROCRIT?
Dangers of using PROCRIT® from multi–dose vials in newborns, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not use PROCRIT® from multi–dose vials in newborns, infants, pregnant or breastfeeding women because the PROCRIT® in these vials contains benzyl alcohol.
Does erythropoietin cause cancer?
Our results indicate that recombinant erythropoietin increased the number of tumor-initiating cells in established breast cancer lines in vitro. Irradiation of breast cancer xenografts caused a phenotype conversion of non-stem breast cancer cells into induced breast cancer-initiating cells.
Is PROCRIT a form of chemo?
PROCRIT® is a man–made form of erythropoietin that causes your bone marrow to make more red blood cells. This, in turn, raises your hemoglobin level and may reduce the need for a blood transfusion. The rise in hemoglobin is not immediate.
Does hemoglobin cause cancer?
Cancer and Anemia Link Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your cells. The types of cancer most often associated with low hemoglobin include: Blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Cancers that are associated with blood loss, such as colon cancer and cervical cancer.
What happens if you have too much erythropoietin?
What happens if I have too much erythropoietin? Excess erythropoietin results from chronic exposure to low oxygen levels or from rare tumours that produce high levels of erythropoietin. It causes a condition known as polycythaemia which means high red blood cell count.
How long does erythropoietin stay in your system?
EPO is undetectable in urine after 3–4 days of injection.
How safe is Procrit?
PROCRIT® may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including: You may get serious heart problems, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, and may die sooner if you are treated with PROCRIT® to increase RBCs to near the same level found in healthy people.
How long do you have to take Procrit?
To help you remember, use it on the same day(s) of the week as directed. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. It may take 2 to 6 weeks before your red blood cell count increases.
When can I stop Procrit?
You may need to stop taking PROCRIT. breath, wheezing, dizziness and fainting because of a drop in blood pressure, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast pulse, or sweating. If you have a serious allergic reaction, stop using PROCRIT and call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
What is the last stage of anemia?
The last stage is iron deficiency anemia. It is characterized by a low hemoglobin concentration with small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) RBCs. Symptoms include fatigue upon exertion, weakness, headaches, apathy, pallor, poor resistance to cold temperatures, low physical work capacity, and poor immune function.
Can low iron mean cancer?
Iron deficiency anemia “may be the red flag that leads a health care provider to search for cancer,” says Francis, since it's typically caused by blood loss, which often occurs in colon cancer and uterine cancer but is less commonly in bladder cancer.
What kind of cancer causes anemia?
The cancers most closely associated with anemia are: Cancers that involve the bone marrow. Blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma interfere with or destroy the marrow's ability to make healthy blood cells. Other cancers that spread to the bone marrow can also cause anemia.
What kind of tumors release erythropoietin?
EPO, a glycoprotein produced mainly by the kidney, controls erythropoiesis (3). Increased EPO production results in secondary erythrocytosis, which has been reported in a variety of tumors including RCC (4), hepatocellular carcinoma (5) and cerebellar hemangioblastoma (6).
Can you give Epogen to cancer patients?
Epogen is not indicated for use: In patients with cancer receiving hormonal agents, biologic products, or radiotherapy, unless also receiving concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
Is erythropoietin a hormone?
The erythropoietin test measures the amount of a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) in blood. The hormone tells stem cells in the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. EPO is made by cells in the kidney. These cells release more EPO when blood oxygen level is low.
Can cancer patient take evening primrose oil?
Patients with hormone-sensitive cancers should use evening primrose oil products with caution, because even though it does not possess estrogenic properties on its own, some commercial evening primrose oil products may contain other phytoestrogen ingredients.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use Procrit if you are allergic to epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa or (Aranesp), or if: 1. you have untreated or uncontrolled high...
How Should I Use Procrit?
Use Procrit exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose....
What Should I Avoid While Using Procrit?
Procrit may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.
What Other Drugs Will Affect Procrit?
Other drugs may interact with epoetin alfa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your...
Does Procrit have epoetin?
Along with its needed effects, epoetin alfa (the active ingredient contained in Procrit) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Does epoetin alfa need medical attention?
Side effects not requiring immediate medical attention. Some side effects of epoetin alfa may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.
What is Procrit?
Procrit ( epoetin alfa) is a man-made form of a protein that helps your body produce red blood cells. This protein may be reduced when you have kidney failure or use certain medications. When fewer red blood cells are produced, you can develop a condition called anemia.
How to use Procrit?
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Procrit is injected under the skin, or as an infusion into a vein.
What other drugs will affect Procrit?
Other drugs may interact with epoetin alfa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
How to know if you have stopped taking epoetin alfa?
Call your pharmacist for new medicine. Do not shake a Procrit vial or you may ruin it. Call your doctor if you feel weak, tired, or light-headed. These may be signs that your body has stopped responding to epoetin alfa. You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects.
Why is Procrit used?
Procrit is used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy or chronic kidney disease, or anemia caused by taking zidovudine to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Procrit is also used to reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in people having certain types of surgery.
Where is Procrit injected?
Procrit is injected under the skin, or as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Can you give Procrit to a baby?
you use an Procrit multi-dose vial and you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not use Procrit from a multi-dose vial when giving medicine to a baby. The multi-dose vial contains an ingredient that can cause serious side effects or death in very young infants or premature babies.
How old was the patient in the Procrit study?
In these studies, the mean age of patients was 57 years (range: 24 to 79 years). One hundred and twenty-one (58%) patients were men. The racial distribution was as follows: 164 (78%) patients were white, 38 (18%) patients were black, 3 (1%) patients were Asian, 3 (1%) patients were other, and racial information was missing for 2 (1%) patients.
How many men and women were in the Procrit treatment group?
For the combined PROCRIT treatment groups, a total of 141 (98%) men and 3 (2%) women between the ages of 24 and 64 years were enrolled. The racial distribution of the combined PROCRIT treatment groups was as follows: 129 (90%) white, 8 (6%) black, 1 (1%) Asian, and 6 (4%) other.
What are the adverse reactions of epoetin alfa?
Additional serious adverse reactions that occurred in less than 5% of epoetin alfa-treated patients not on dialysis and greater than placebo were erythema (0.8% PROCRIT and 0% placebo) and myocardial infarction (0.8% PROCRIT and 0% placebo) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ].
How many units of procrit are in 1 ml?
Procrit is available in vials; 1 mL of solution contains 2000, 3000, 4000 or 10,000 Units of Epoetin alfa. Single and multidose vials are available. Dose is determined by the prescribing doctor and the patient's condition.
Why is postmarketing reporting of adverse reactions voluntary?
Because postmarketing reporting of adverse reactions is voluntary and from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Is epoetin alfa immunogenic?
As with all therapeutic proteins, there is a potential for immunogenicity. Neutralizing antibodies to epoetin alfa that cross-react with endogenous erythropoietin and other ESAs can result in PRCA or severe anemia (with or without other cytopenias) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS ].
Can Procrit be taken with breast milk?
It is unknown if Procrit passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Our Procrit Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.