Epogen/Procrit

Generic name: epoetin alfa
Brand names: Epogen, Procrit, Retacrit
Drug class: Recombinant human erythropoietins

Medically reviewed by A Ras MD.

What is Epogen/Procrit?

Epogen and Procrit are the same medication. Epoetin alfa is marketed as Epogen for use in kidney-dialysis patients in the US, while it is sold as Procrit in the US for other conditions.

Epogen/Procrit is a prescription medicine used to treat anemia. People with anemia have a lower-than-normal number of RBCs. Epogen/Procrit works like the human protein called erythropoietin to help your body make more RBCs.

Epogen/Procrit is used to reduce or avoid the need for RBC transfusions.

Epogen/Procrit may be used to treat anemia if it is caused by:

Chronic kidney disease (you may or may not be on dialysis).
Chemotherapy that will be used for at least two months after starting Epogen/Procrit.
A medicine called zidovudine (AZT) used to treat HIV infection.

Epogen/Procrit may also be used to reduce the chance you will need RBC transfusions if you are scheduled for certain surgeries where a lot of blood loss is expected.

If your hemoglobin level stays too high or if your hemoglobin goes up too quickly, this may lead to serious health problems which may result in death. These serious health problems may happen if you take Epogen/Procrit, even if you do not have an increase in your hemoglobin level.

Epogen/Procrit has not been proven to improve quality of life, fatigue, or well-being.

Epogen/Procrit should not be used for treatment of anemia:

If you have cancer and you will not be receiving chemotherapy that may cause anemia.
If you have a cancer that has a high chance of being cured. Talk with your healthcare provider about the kind of cancer you have.
If your anemia caused by chemotherapy treatment can be managed by RBC transfusion.
In place of emergency treatment for anemia (RBC transfusions).

Epogen/Procrit should not be used to reduce the chance you will need RBC transfusions if:

You are scheduled for surgery on your heart or blood vessels.
You are able and willing to donate blood prior to surgery.

It is not known if Epogen/Procrit is safe and effective in treating anemia in children less than 1 month old who have chronic kidney disease and in children less than 5 years old who have anemia caused by chemotherapy.

What is the most important information I should know about Epogen/Procrit?

Epogen/Procrit may cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

For people with cancer:

Your tumor may grow faster and you may die sooner if you choose to take Epogen/Procrit. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about these risks.

For all people who take Epogen/Procrit, including people with cancer or chronic kidney disease:

Serious heart problems, such as heart attack or heart failure, and stroke. You may die sooner if you are treated with Epogen/Procrit to increase red blood cells (RBCs) to near the same level found in healthy people.
Blood clots. Blood clots may happen at any time while taking Epogen/Procrit. If you are receiving Epogen/Procrit for any reason and you are going to have surgery, talk to your healthcare provider about whether or not you need to take a blood thinner to lessen the chance of blood clots during or following surgery. Blood clots can form in blood vessels (veins), especially in your leg (deep venous thrombosis or DVT). Pieces of a blood clot may travel to the lungs and block the blood circulation in the lungs (pulmonary embolus).
Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain in your legs, with or without swelling
- A cool or pale arm or leg
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding others’ speech
- Sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body
- Sudden trouble seeing
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Loss of consciousness (fainting)
- Hemodialysis vascular access stops working

See “What are the possible side effects of Epogen/Procrit?” below for more information.

If you decide to take Epogen/Procrit, your healthcare provider should prescribe the smallest dose of Epogen/Procrit that is necessary to reduce your chance of needing RBC transfusions.

Who should not take Epogen/Procrit?

Do not take Epogen/Procrit if you:

Have cancer and have not been counseled by your healthcare provider about treatment with Epogen/Procrit.
Have high blood pressure that is not controlled (uncontrolled hypertension).
Have been told by your healthcare provider that you have or have ever had a type of anemia called Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) that starts after treatment with Epogen/Procrit or other erythropoietin protein medicines.
Have had a serious allergic reaction to Epogen/Procrit.

Do not give Epogen/Procrit from multiple-dose vials to:

Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Babies

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Epogen/Procrit?

Before taking Epogen/Procrit, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Have heart disease.
Have high blood pressure.
Have had a seizure (convulsion) or stroke.
Receive dialysis treatment.
Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Epogen/Procrit may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible pregnancy and birth control choices that are right for you.
Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Epogen/Procrit passes into breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How should I take Epogen/Procrit?

If you or your caregiver has been trained to give Epogen/Procrit shots (injections) at home:
- Be sure that you read, understand, and follow the “Instructions for Use” that come with Epogen/Procrit.
- Take Epogen/Procrit exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Do not change the dose of Epogen/Procrit unless told to do so by your healthcare provider.
- Your healthcare provider will show you how much Epogen/Procrit to use, how to inject it, how often it should be injected, and how to safely throw away the used vials, syringes, and needles.
- If you miss a dose of Epogen/Procrit, call your healthcare provider right away and ask what to do.
- If you take more than the prescribed dose of Epogen/Procrit, call your healthcare provider right away.
During treatment with Epogen/Procrit, continue to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for diet and medicines.
Have your blood pressure checked as instructed by your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects of Epogen/Procrit?

Epogen/Procrit may cause serious side effects, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about Epogen/Procrit?”
High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common side effect of Epogen/Procrit in people with chronic kidney disease. Your blood pressure may go up or be difficult to control with blood pressure medicine while taking Epogen/Procrit. This can happen even if you have never had high blood pressure before. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure often. If your blood pressure does go up, your healthcare provider may prescribe new or more blood pressure medicine.
Seizures. If you have any seizures while taking Epogen/Procrit, get medical help right away and tell your healthcare provider.
Antibodies to Epogen/Procrit. Your body may make antibodies to Epogen/Procrit. These antibodies can block or lessen your body’s ability to make RBCs and cause you to have severe anemia. Call your healthcare provider if you have unusual tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, or fainting. You may need to stop taking Epogen/Procrit.
Serious allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions can cause a skin rash, itching, shortness of 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 Epogen/Procrit and call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
Severe skin reactions. Signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions with Epogen/Procrit may include: skin rash with itching, blisters, skin sores, peeling, or areas of skin coming off. If you have any signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction, stop using Epogen/Procrit and call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
Dangers of using Epogen/Procrit from multiple-dose vials in newborns, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not use Epogen/Procrit from multiple-dose vials in newborns, infants, pregnant or breastfeeding women because the Epogen/Procrit in these vials contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol has been shown to cause brain damage, other serious side effects, and death in newborn and premature babies. If you use Epogen/Procrit from multiple-dose vials you should not breastfeed for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. Epogen/Procrit that comes in single-dose vials does not contain benzyl alcohol. See “Who should not take Epogen/Procrit?”

Common side effects of Epogen/Procrit include:

joint, muscle, or bone pain
fever
cough
dizziness
high blood sugar
low potassium levels in the blood
chills
rash
nausea
vomiting
blood vessel blockage
low white blood cells
trouble sleeping
difficulty swallowing
soreness of mouth
itching
headache
respiratory infection
weight decrease
depression
muscle spasm
redness and pain at the Epogen/Procrit injection site

These are not all of the possible side effects of Epogen/Procrit. Your healthcare provider can give you a more complete list. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

General information about the safe and effective use of Epogen/Procrit

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Epogen/Procrit for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Epogen/Procrit to other people even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Epogen/Procrit that is written for healthcare professionals.

How should I store Epogen/Procrit?

Do not shake Epogen/Procrit.
Store Epogen/Procrit vials in the carton it comes in to protect from light.
Store Epogen/Procrit in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
Do not freeze Epogen/Procrit. Do not use Epogen/Procrit that has been frozen.
Throw away multiple-dose vials of Epogen/Procrit no later than 21 days from the first day that you put a needle into the vial.
Single-dose vials of Epogen/Procrit should be used only one time. Throw the vial away after use even if there is medicine left in the vial.

Keep Epogen/Procrit and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What are the ingredients in Epogen/Procrit?

Active ingredient: epoetin alfa

Inactive ingredients:

Multiple-dose vials contain benzyl alcohol.
All vials contain albumin (human), citric acid, sodium chloride, sodium citrate and Water for Injection.
Single-dose vials containing 40,000 Units of Epogen/Procrit also contain sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrate and sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate.

SRC: NLM .

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