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In addition to epoetin, your body needs iron to make red blood cells. Your doctor may direct you to take iron supplements. He or she may also direct you to take certain vitamins that help the iron work better. Be sure to follow your doctor's orders carefully , because epoetin will not work properly if there is not enough iron in your body.
If you are giving this medicine at home:
Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given.
Throw away used needles in a hard closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
back to top Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur :
More common–in any treatment group
Chest pain; shortness of breath.
Less common–in any treatment group
Anxiety; blurred vision; convulsions (seizures); cough; dizziness or lightheadedness; fainting; fast heartbeat; nausea; pain or discomfort in arms, jaw, back or neck; pains in chest, groin, or legs, especially calves of legs; severe headaches of sudden onset; sudden loss of coordination; sudden and severe inability to speak; slurred speech; sudden vision changes; sweating; temporary blindness; vomiting; weakness in arm and/or leg on one side of the body, sudden and severe.
Also, check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common—for patients being treated for anemia due to chronic kidney failure
Fever; headache; increased blood pressure; swelling of face, fingers, ankles, feet, or lower legs; vision problems; weight gain.
Rare—for patients being treated for anemia due to chronic kidney failure
Changes in skin color; changes in vision; double vision; migraine headache; pain, tenderness, swelling of foot or leg; pale skin; partial or complete loss of vision in eye; skin rash or hives; sore throat; tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over affected area; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness.
More common—for patients being treated for anemia due to chronic kidney failure who require dialysis (in addition to those listed above)
Cough; fast heartbeat; fever; redness or pain at the dialysis access site; sneezing; sore throat.
More common—for zidovudine-treated HIV-infected patients
Fever; headache; skin rash or hives.
More common—for cancer patients on chemotherapy
Cough, sneezing or sore throat; fever; swelling of face, fingers, ankles, feet or lower legs; weight gain.
More common—for surgical patients
Blood in urine, lower back pain, or pain or burning while urinating; fever; headache; increased blood pressure; skin rash or hives; swelling of face, fingers, ankles, feet or lower legs; swelling or pain in legs; weight gain.
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Epoetin sometimes causes an influenza-like reaction, with symptoms such as muscle aches, bone pain, chills, shivering, and sweating, occurring about 1 or 2 hours after an injection. These symptoms usually go away within 12 hours. However, check with your doctor if this influenza-like reaction or any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common—in all treatment groups
Diarrhea; dizziness; nausea or vomiting.
More common —for patients being treated for anemia due to chronic kidney failure (in addition to those listed above)
Bone or joint pain, muscle aches, chills, shivering, sweating; general feeling of tiredness or weakness; itching or stinging at site of injection; loss of strength or energy; muscle pain or weakness.
More common—for patients being treated for anemia due to chronic kidney failure who require dialysis (in addition to those listed above)
Abdominal pain and swelling; constipation; cough; fever; sore throat; weight loss.
More common —for zidovudine-treated HIV-infected patients
Congestion in the lungs; cough; general feeling of tiredness or weakness; itching or stinging at site of injection; loss of strength or energy; muscle pain or weakness.
More common—for cancer patients on chemotherapy
General feeling of tiredness or weakness; loss of strength or energy; muscle pain or weakness; tingling, burning or prickly sensation.
More common—for surgical patients
Anxiety; constipation; heartburn or belching, acid or sour stomach; inability to sleep; itching or stinging at site of injection; skin pain; stomach discomfort, upset or pain.
Oct 21, 2005
Copyright © 2007 Micromedex Inc. All rights reserved. USPDI® and Advice for the Patient® are registered trademarks USP used under license to Micromedex Inc. Patient Education Leaflets™ is a trademark of Micromedex Inc. Information is for End User's personal use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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