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Indication & Dosage |
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| Intravenous |
| INCREASE YIELD OF AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD |
| Adult:
As epoetin alfa or zeta: 600 U/kg over 2 minutes twice wkly for 3 wk before surgery; in conjunction with iron, folate and B12 supplementation. |
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| Subcutaneous |
| ANEMIA RELATED TO NON-MYELOID MALIGNANT DISEASE CHEMOTHERAPY |
| Adult:
As epoetin alfa or zeta: Initially, 150 U/kg 3 times wkly. Dose may be increased at 4-8 wk intervals to 300 U/kg 3 times wkly. Stop treatment if response is still inadequate after 4 wk of treatment using this higher dose |
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| Parenteral |
| ANEMIA OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE |
| Adult:
As epoetin alfa: Initially, 50 U/kg SC/IV 3 times wkly for predialysis and haemodialysis patients and 50 U/kg twice wkly for peritoneal dialysis patients, may increase according to response in steps of 25 U/kg 3 times wkly at 4 wkly intervals. |
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| Parenteral |
| ANEMIA OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE |
| Child:
As epoetin alfa: Initially, 50 U/kg 3 times wkly. May increase dose at 4 wkly intervals in increments of 25 U/kg 3 times wkly until a target haemoglobin concentration of 9.5-11 g/100 mL is reached. Usual maintenance dose: <10 kg: 225-450 U/kg/wk; 10-30 kg: 180-450 U/kg/wk and >30 kg: 90-300 U/kg/wk. |
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| Parenteral |
| AIDS PATIENTS ON ZIDOVUDINE RELATED ANAEMIA |
| Adult:
As epoetin alfa: Initially, 100 U/kg SC/IV thrice wkly for 8 wk; increase every 4-8 wk by 50-100 U/kg according to response. Max: 300 U/kg thrice wkly. |
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| Precautions |
Chronic renal failure, ischaemic heart diseases, hypertension, pregnancy, seizures, liver dysfunction, lactation. |
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Potentially Life-threatening
Adverse Drug Reactions |
Hypertension, myalgia, arthralgia, flu-like syndrome, rashes and urticaria. |
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| Adverse Drug Reactions |
Hypertensive crisis with encephalopathy-like symptoms e.g. headache, confusion, generalised seizures. Thrombosis. |
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| Interactions |
Haematinics enhance efficiency. Increased dose of heparin in patients undergoing dialysis. |
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