Epoetin Alfa (Cont.)

When and How to Take Epoetin Alfa

General considerations for when and how to take epoetin alfa include the following:
 
  • The medication is usually given once a week or three times a week, depending on several factors.
     
  • Epoetin alfa comes as an injection that is given under the skin (subcutaneously) or by IV infusion.
     
  • In some situations, you may be able to give yourself epoetin alfa injections (under the skin, not by IV) at home. In this case, your healthcare provider should teach you exactly how to give yourself the injections.
     
  • Never shake epoetin alfa, as it is a delicate molecule that could be damaged by shaking.
     
  • You will need regular blood tests while taking epoetin alfa to see how well the medicine is working.
     
  • It is important that your body has enough iron; otherwise, epoetin alfa cannot work well. Your healthcare provider may recommend iron supplements in some situations.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Epoetin alfa will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dosing Information for Epoetin Alfa

The dose of epoetin alfa that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • The cause of your anemia
  • How you respond to epoetin alfa (as measured by blood tests)
  • Your weight
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your epoetin alfa dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Epoetin Alfa Dosing for more information.)
 
(Epoetin Alfa Continued: Page 4)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;