What is epoetin alfa used to treat?
Epoetin alfa works by signaling the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. This medication is very similar to the natural substance in your body (erythropoietin) that prevents anemia.
What is the difference between Alfa and epoetin Zeta?
Therapeutic equivalence of epoetin zeta and alfa, administered subcutaneously, for maintenance treatment of renal anemia Epoetin zeta, administered subcutaneously, is equivalent to epoetin alfa in respect of its clinical efficacy.
Can epoetin alfa injections be used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy?
You should only receive epoetin alfa injection products to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy if your chemotherapy is expected to continue for at least 2 months after you start your treatment with epoetin alfa injection and if there is not a high chance that your cancer will be cured.
How do I know if I need to stop using Epoetin alfa?
Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to epoetin alfa injection. Your doctor may decrease your dose or tell you to stop using epoetin alfa injection for a period of time if the tests show that you are at high risk of experiencing serious side effects of epoetin alfa injection.
What is the therapeutic effect for epoetin?
Epoetin is used to treat severe anemia in patients on kidney dialysis or for those not on dialysis. Epoetin may also be used to prevent or treat anemia that is caused by surgery or medicines (eg, zidovudine) that are used for other conditions, such as HIV or cancer.
What is the action of epoetin alfa?
Epoetin alfa products are in a class of medications called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). They work by causing the bone marrow (soft tissue inside the bones where blood is made) to make more red blood cells.
How do you know if epoetin alfa is effective?
When epoetin begins to work, usually in about 6 weeks, most people start to feel better. Some people are able to be more active. However, epoetin only corrects anemia.
What is epoetin alfa side effects?
More commonBone or joint pain.general feeling of tiredness or weakness.heartburn or belching.itching or stinging at the injection site.loss of strength or energy.muscle aches or weakness.skin pain.stomach discomfort, upset, pain, or swelling.
How does erythropoietin work in the body?
Erythropoietin is a type of protein called a growth factor. The body makes it naturally. It works by stimulating the bone marrow, where blood cells are made, to make red blood cells. Erythropoietin can also be made in a laboratory, as a treatment for people with anaemia.
How does erythropoietin affect the body?
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that is produced predominantly by specialised cells called interstitial cells in the kidney. Once it is made, it acts on red blood cells to protect them against destruction. At the same time it stimulates stem cells of the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells.
What can I monitor with epoetin?
Monitoring and Testing While Taking Epoetin Alfa Tests will include blood tests (specifically hemoglobin and hematocrit) and blood pressure measurements.
What is Epogen used to treat?
Epogen (epoetin alfa) is an injectable medication used to treat low red blood cell count. It can have serious side effects, so it should only be used in certain types of people with anemia.
Does epoetin alfa increase blood pressure?
EPO increases calcium influx in vascular smooth muscle cells. Vasoconstrictive effect of EPO leads to hypertension.
Does epoetin affect blood pressure?
Hypertension is a common adverse effect of erythropoietin treatment among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and even among healthy subjects who receive erythropoietin [1-3]. Hypertension has also been described following the use of other erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in patients with CKD [4].
What does epoetin alfa interact with?
Epoetin Alfa has serious interactions with no other drugs.
What are the serious side effects of Epogen?
Common side effects of Epogen include: upper respiratory tract infection, arthralgia, decreased serum iron, diarrhea, edema, fever, low serum ferritin, paresthesia, respiratory congestion, skin rash, tachycardia, cough, dyspnea, headache, nausea, signs and symptoms of injection site, and vomiting.
Does epoetin alfa increase blood pressure?
EPO increases calcium influx in vascular smooth muscle cells. Vasoconstrictive effect of EPO leads to hypertension.
Does epoetin alfa lower BP?
Epoetin alfa may sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure, especially in patients with long-term kidney failure. This effect may be caused by the number of red blood cells increasing too quickly, usually within the first 3 months of starting treatment.
What does epoetin alfa interact with?
Epoetin Alfa has serious interactions with no other drugs.
Does epoetin alfa cause high blood pressure?
Hypertension is the most frequent and most significant complication in Epo treatment. A rise in blood pressure or a need for augmentation of antihypertensive medications is demonstrated in approximately one third of Epo-treated patients.
What are the risks of ESA?
ESAs increase the risk of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, venous thromboembolism, thrombosis of vascular access, and tumor progression or recurrence. Chronic Kidney Disease :In controlled trials, patients experienced greater risks for death, serious adverse cardiovascular reactions, and stroke when administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to target a hemoglobin level greater than 11 g/dL.No trial has identified a hemoglobin target level, ESA dose, or dosing strategy that does not increase these risks.Use the lowest epoetin alfa-epbx dose sufficient to reduce the need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.Cancer:ESAs shortened overall survival and/or increased the risk of tumor progression or recurrence in clinical studies of patients with breast, non-small cell lung, head and neck, lymphoid, and cervical cancers.To decrease these risks, as well as the risk of serious cardiovascular and thromboembolic reactions, use the lowest dose needed to avoid RBC transfusions.Use ESAs only for anemia from myelosuppressive chemotherapy .ESAs are not indicated for patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy when the anticipated outcome is cure.Discontinue following the completion of a chemotherapy course.Perisurgery:Due to increased risk of deep venous thrombosis ( DVT ), DVT prophylaxis is recommended.
How common is myalgia?
Very common (10% or more): Arthralgia (up to 24%), pain in extremity (up to 15%), myalgia (up to 10%)
What percentage of people have stomatitis?
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 56%), diarrhea (up to 30%), vomiting (up to 28%), stomatitis (10%)
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.
Does epoetin alfa cause side effects?
Side effects requiring immediate medical attention. Along with its needed effects, epoetin alfa may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention .
How should this medicine be used?
It is usually injected one to three times weekly. When epoetin alfa injection products are used to decrease the risk that blood transfusions will be required due to surgery, it is sometimes injected once daily for 10 days before surgery, on the day of surgery and for 4 days after surgery. Alternatively, epoetin alfa injection products are sometimes injected once weekly, beginning 3 weeks before surgery and on the day of surgery.
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Dispose of any medication that has been frozen. Dispose of a multidose vial of epoetin alfa injection 21 days after you first use it.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure often during your treatment with epoetin alfa injection products.
How long does epoetin alfa last?
When epoetin alfa injection products are used to decrease the risk that blood transfusions will be required due to surgery, it is sometimes injected once daily for 10 days before surgery, on the day of surgery and for 4 days after surgery.
What is epoetin alfa used for?
Epoetin alfa injection products are also used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy in people with certain types of cancer or caused by zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir, in Trizivir, in Combivir), a medication used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Why do you need epoetin alfa before surgery?
Epoetin alfa injection products are also used before and after certain types of surgery to decrease the chance that blood transfusions (transfer of one person's blood to another person's body) will be needed because of blood loss during surgery.
How to stop epoetin alfa?
Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to epoetin alfa injection products. Your doctor may decrease your dose or tell you to stop using an epoetin alfa injection product for a period of time if the tests show that you are at high risk of experiencing serious side effects. Follow your doctor's directions carefully.
Are you currently using Epoetin Alfa Solution?
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How to store a med?
Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Protect from light. Store the medication in the original carton until ready for use. Let the medication come to room temperature before using. For the single-use vials, discard any unused medication right away. For the multi-use vials, store opened vials in the refrigerator and discard any unused medication after 3 weeks. Keep all medications away from children and pets.
Why does a syringe stop working?
Rarely, this medication may suddenly stop working well after a period of time because your body may make antibodies to it. A very serious anemia can result. Tell your doctor right away if symptoms of anemia return (such as increased tiredness, low energy, pale skin color, shortness of breath).
What is Zidovudine used for?
This medication is used to treat anemia (low red blood cell count) in people with long-term serious kidney disease (chronic kidney failure ), people receiving zidovudine to treat HIV, and people receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer ( cancer that does not involve the bone marrow or blood cells ).
What to tell your dentist before surgery?
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
What to eat if you miss a dose of a sulfate supplement?
Your doctor may recommend that you eat a well- balanced diet rich in iron (such as raisins, figs, meat, eggs, vegetables, iron-fortified cereals). Follow your doctor's instructions and dietary recommendations. Missed Dose. If you miss a dose, ask your doctor or pharmacist right away for a new dosing schedule.
Can you use epoetin alfa if you are allergic to it?
Before using epoetin alfa, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to epoetin alfa-epbx; or to other drugs that cause more red blood cells to be made (such as darbepoetin alfa); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as benzyl alcohol, polysorbate), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.