Epoetin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Epogen, Procrit, Eprex, human erythropoietin, recombinant, EPO, r-HuEPO

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For epoetin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to epoetin or to human albumin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Epoetin has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans. However, it did cause problems, including unwanted effects on the bones and spine, in some animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether epoetin passes into the breast milk. However, it has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Epoetin has been given to elderly people. However, there is no specific information about whether epoetin works the same way it does in younger adults or whether it causes different side effects or problems in older people.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking epoetin, it is important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of epoetin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Aluminum poisoning

• Blood clots (history of) or other problems with the blood or
• Folic acid, iron, or vitamin B₁₂ deficiencies
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure - The chance of side effects may be increased

• Infection, inflammation, or cancer

• Bone problems or
• Porphyrin (red blood cell pigment) metabolism disorder - Symptoms include change in color of urine, increased sun sensitivity, abdominal pain, and nerve swelling
• Sickle cell anemia - Epoetin may not work properly

• Seizures (history of) - The chance of seizures may be increased