Eprex Side Effects

Serious Side Effects of Eprex

Allergic reaction symptoms such as skin rash or hives, trouble breathing, sweating, abnormal heart rate, or decreased blood pressure
Muscle aches and pain
Swelling of the face, fingers, ankles, feet or lower legs
Signs of an infection such as a cough, fever or chills, severe diarrhea, shortness of breath, prolonged dizziness, headaches, and sore throat

Common Side Effects of Eprex

Vomiting
Skin rash or rashes
Flu-like symptoms that may include a fever, joint pain, muscle pain or tenderness

Warnings & Recalls for Eprex

Family Planning Warnings

The FDA has assigned Eprex as category C. Eprex is only recmommneded for use when the risk is outweighed by the benefit. If a patient becomes pregnant while using the medication, she should contact her doctor immediately.
Patients should inform their doctors if they are breast-feeding while taking Eprex, because the medication may affect the baby. It is not known if Eprex passes into breast milk.

General Warnings

Patients should not double dose Eprex injections.
Eprex is for single use only. Patients need to properly dispose after use.
The medication should be discarded if the seal is broken; the liquid is colored or particles are in it; it may have been frozen or if there has been a refrigeration failure.
Those who have had a history of blood clot complications, cancer, heart disease/attacks, high blood pressure, gout, kidney disease, infections or inflammations, bone problems, blood diseases, folic acid/iron/Vitamin b12 deficiencies, porphyria, seizures, strokes or pure red cell aplasia should discuss with their doctor about taking this medication, as it may be harmful.
Safety and efficacy in children less than 1 month of age has not been established. In children older than 1 month, Eprex has been deemed safe for use.

Interactions

Patients should inform their doctors of all other medications they may be taking. Any supplements should also be mentioned as well.

Eprex Treatment and Use

Eprex | Epoetin alfa helps to produce red blood cells. Patients with cancer may experience a low red cell count because of chemotherapy and individuals with a kidney failure face an impaired production of the erythropoietin hormone, which stimulates red blood cell production.

How does it work?

Eprex works by stimulating bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The drug is helpful in treating some of the causes of anemia.

Dosage Information

Eprex is an intravenous injection, and should be used exactly as a patient’s doctor prescribes.. Patients may need to adjust their dosage according to their body’s response to the medication.

The medication should be refrigerated and shieled from light, and should not be shaken before use.

Children with chronic renal failure should start their dosage for anemia at 50 units per kilogram of their body weight, and the medication should be given three times a week. Adults with chronic renal failure should start their dosage at 50 to 100 units per kilogram of their body weight, and the medication should be given three times a week, anemia in adults with HIV usually start their dosage at 100 units per kilogram of their body weight, and patients with anemia due to chemotherapy should start their dosage at 150 units per kilogram of their body weight, and the medication should be injected subcutaneously 3 times a week.

When Eprex is used in patients scheduled for surgry, higher doses are used. Patients who miss a scheduled dosage should immediately take their medication, if it is not close to the next scheduled dosage.