Epoetin alfa-epbx (injection route)
Available brands
Retacrit
About this medication
Epoetin alfa-epbx injection is used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who may or may not be on dialysis. This medicine 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. Epoetin alfa-epbx injection is a man-made version of human erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is produced naturally in the body, mostly by the kidneys. It causes the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. If the body does not produce enough red blood cells, severe anemia can occur. This often occurs in people with chronic kidney failure whose kidneys are not working properly. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
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 this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of epoetin alfa-epbxsingle-dose vialin children 1 month of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 month of agewith chronic kidney disease on and not on dialysis, or in children younger than 5 years of agewith cancer. Epoetin alfa-epbxmultiple-dose vialshould not be used in newborn or infants. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of epoetin alfa-epbx injection in the elderly. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. 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. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Epoetin alfa-epbx injection is usually given by a doctor in a hospital or clinic. However, medicines given by injection are sometimes used at home. If you will be using epoetin alfa-epbx at home, your doctor will teach you how the injections are to be given. Be sure you understand exactly how the medicine is to be injected. It may be given as a shot under your skin (usually in the buttocks, upper arms, thighs or stomach) or into a vein. If your doctor tells you to inject it in a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions. This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine is available insingle-dose vialormultiple-dose vial. Your doctor will tell which form is right for you. If you are using this medicine at home: In addition to this medicine, your body needs iron and vitamins to make red blood cells. Your doctor may direct you to take iron or vitamin supplements. Be sure to follow your doctor's orders carefully. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Protect the medicine from light. Keep your medicine in the original package until you are ready to use it. Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets. If you use themultiple-dose vialthat has enough medicine for more than one dose, put it back in the refrigerator and store for up to 21 days.
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