Erythropoietin

N/A

Erythropoietin is indicated for the treatment of- Anemia associated with Chronic Renal Failure, including patients on dialysis and patients not on dialysis. Anemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies where anemia is due to the effect of concomitantly administered chemotherapy. ... Read moreErythropoietin is indicated for the treatment of- Anemia associated with Chronic Renal Failure, including patients on dialysis and patients not on dialysis. Anemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies where anemia is due to the effect of concomitantly administered chemotherapy. Anemic patients (hemoglobin >10 to <13 g/dL) are scheduled to undergo elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery to reduce the need for allogeneic blood transfusions. Anemia related to therapy with zidovudine in HIV-infected patients.

N/A

Erythropoietin is contraindicated in patients with: Uncontrolled hypertension Known hypersensitivity to mammalian cell-derived products A history of hypersensitivity to Erythropoietin or any component of the preparation.

General: Headache, dizziness, fever, malaise, arthralgia and occasionally hyperkalemia. Cardiovascular: Hypertension is the most common side effect, palpitations. Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia and diarrhea may occur occasionally. Allergic reactions.

Doses of up to 1500 lU/kg TIW for 3 to 4 weeks have been administered to adults without any direct toxic effects. If the suggested target range is exceeded, drug therapy may be temporarily withheld until the hemoglobin returns to the suggested target range. If polycythemia is of concern, phlebotomy may be indicated to decrease the hemoglobin.

Pregnancy Category C. Since there are no controlled studies of erythropoietin in pregnant women, and because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human responses, erythropoietin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when erythropoietin is administered to a nursing woman.

Erythropoietin should be used with caution in those patients with controlled hypertension, ischaemic vascular disease, history of seizures, or suspected allergy to the product.Iron evaluation: Prior to and during Erythropoietin therapy, the patient's iron stores, including transferrin saturation and serum ferritin, should be evaluated. Transferrin saturation should be at least 20%, and ferritin should be at least 100 ng/ml. Virtually all patients will require supplemental Iron to increase or maintain transferrin saturation to levels that will adequately support erythropoiesis.