Epoetin alfa is a type of medical drug that is used to treat anemia, a condition involving low levels of red blood cells. It is a prescription drug that usually needs to be administered via injection three times a week, although this can vary depending on the patient. There are usually no severe side effects, although the drug can cause problems such as high blood pressure and, in some cases, blood clots.
The most common use of epoetin alfa is in the treatment of anemia. This is a condition that causes the number of red blood cells in the body to be reduced, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue. Anemia can be caused by a number of conditions, but epoetin alfa is most commonly used to treat the condition if it is caused by kidney failure, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or cancer.
Epoetin alfa is a prescription drug in the United States. This means it’s not available as an over-the-counter drug and requires a doctor’s prescription to obtain and take. The most common brand names of the drug are Procrit® and Epogen®. It is not cheap, with one patient's cost for a year's worth of the medicine running several thousand US Dollars.
In most cases the drug is administered to a patient via an injection. The dose depends on the patient’s condition and usually needs to be given three times a week. It works by causing bone marrow in the body to produce more red blood cells. The amount of red blood cells in the body is usually regulated naturally, but people with anemia need the drug to stimulate the body to making more.
There are several potential epoetin alfa side effects, although the drug causes relatively few severe problems. Some of the most common side effects include increased blood pressure and blood clots around the injection area. It also can cause headaches, joint pain and, in some cases, a rash or flu symptoms. Allergic reactions to the drug are very rare, although they can occur in some cases.
In some patients, severe blood clots in the veins may result from receiving the drug. Although severe side effects are relatively rare, epoetin alfa should only be used for conditions in which it is absolutely necessary, because it doesn’t cure the underlying problem. People with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy may suffer from additional side effects, including diarrhea and shortness of breath, as a result of taking this medication.