What are the side effects of epoetin alfa?

Asked by: Jeremy Coon

More common

• Bone 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.

What is the most common adverse effect of epoetin?

The most common side effects of Epogen in patients undergoing surgery with anemia are fever, nausea, constipation, skin reactions, vomiting and headaches.

What are the serious side effects of Epogen?

EPOGEN^® may cause other serious side effects:

• High blood pressure. …
• Seizures. …
• Antibodies to EPOGEN^®. …
• Serious allergic reactions. …
• Severe skin reactions. …
• Dangers of using EPOGEN^® from multiple-dose vials (which contain benzyl alcohol) in newborns, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

What should I monitor with epoetin alfa?

Monitoring and Testing While Taking Epoetin Alfa

You will be monitored regularly by your doctor while you are taking epoetin alfa. Tests will include blood tests (specifically hemoglobin and hematocrit) and blood pressure measurements.

What are some adverse effects of erythropoietin?

Common side effects

• Allergic reaction. Rarely, some people have an allergic reaction to erythropoietin. …
• Feeling sick or being sick. You may feel sick during treatment with erythropoietin. …
• Diarrhoea. …
• Blood clot risk. …
• Headaches. …
• High blood pressure. …
• Muscle, joint or bone pain. …
• Flu-like symptoms.

How long can you take epoetin?

Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 100 units per kilogram (kg) injected into a vein or under the skin three times a week for 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Can Epogen cause a stroke?

This medication may rarely cause serious (sometimes fatal) problems from blood clots (such as heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the legs or lungs).

Are EPO injections safe?

EPO medication is very safe. In rare cases, patients feel like they have the flu about 1 hour after an injection. This is not serious and the feeling does go away. EPO medication improves hemoglobin so your blood pressure may go up.

Why does Epogen cause hypertension?

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 are the contraindications of epoetin alfa?

Epoetin alfa is contraindicated in patients with serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic reactions, angioedema, bronchospasm, skin rash, and urticaria, to the product. Immediately and permanently discontinue epoetin alfa and administer appropriate therapy if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs.

Does EPO have long term effects?

“Long-term use of EPO can lead to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and pulmonary emboli — blood clots in the lungs,” he added. “This increase in potential for developing such complications is directly linked with the duration of use of EPO.”

Does erythropoietin increase blood pressure?

Chronic administration of erythropoietin (EPO) is associated with an increase in arterial blood pressure in patients and animals with chronic renal failure (CRF). Several mechanisms have been considered in the pathogenesis of EPO-induced hypertension.

Does erythropoietin increase creatinine?

We found that erythropoietin was able to prevent the increase in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.

Is erythropoietin hard on the kidneys?

When you have kidney disease, your kidneys cannot make enough EPO. Low EPO levels cause your red blood cell count to drop and anemia to develop. Most people with kidney disease will develop anemia. Anemia can happen early in the course of kidney disease and grow worse as kidneys fail and can no longer make EPO.

How does EPO affect the kidneys?

When your kidneys are damaged, they produce less erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that signals your bone marrow—the spongy tissue inside most of your bones—to make red blood cells. With less EPO, your body makes fewer red blood cells, and less oxygen is delivered to your organs and tissues.

Does anemia affect creatinine?

The ARIC study (7) recently reported an interaction between anemia and high serum creatinine that increased the risk for CHD events in people with both anemia and high serum creatinine.

What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?

Light-brown or tea-colored urine can be a sign of kidney disease/failure or muscle breakdown.

What are the signs that your kidneys are not working properly?

If your kidneys aren’t working properly, you may notice one or more of the following signs: Fatigue (extreme tiredness) An upset stomach or vomiting. Confusion or trouble concentrating.

Where do you itch with kidney disease?

It may affect your whole body or be limited to a specific area – usually your back or arms. Itching tends to affects both sides of the body at the same time and may feel internal, like a crawling feeling just below the skin.

How does kidney disease affect the feet?

Decreased kidney function can lead to sodium retention, causing swelling in your feet and ankles. Swelling in the lower extremities can also be a sign of heart disease, liver disease and chronic leg vein problems.

What does a kidney rash look like?

One rash that occurs in people who have end-stage kidney disease causes small, dome-shaped, and extremely itchy bumps. As these bumps clear, new ones can form. Sometimes, the small bumps join together to form rough, raised patches.