Procrit Side Effects
From Pharmacy Drug Guide
Procrit is the brand name for epoetin alfa, an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) that is prescribed to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). ESAs stimulate the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and can decrease the need for blood transfusions in some anemia patients.[1] Procrit is administered via injection. In addition to treating patients with CKD, it is also used to treat chemotherapy-related anemia in cancer patients, zidovudine-related anemia in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and as a preventative to reduce the need for allogenic red blood transfusions in patients undergoing elective, nonvascular/noncardiac surgery.[1]
Potential Procrit side effects include headache, muscle ache, and nausea.[2]
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| Brand name for | Epoetin alfa |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Janssen |
| Uses | Treats anemia[2] |
| Common side effects | Muscle aches, nausea, and headache[2] |
| Who should not take Drug Name? | Patients with high blood pressure |
| Disclaimer | The information provided by PharmacyDrugGuide.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not take any action based on the information on this page without consulting a physician. |
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Common Procrit Side Effects
In clinical studies, greater than 5% of patients taking Procrit experienced the following side effects:[3]
Patients taking Procrit for Chronic Kidney Disease:
- hypertension
- arthralgia
- muscle spasm
- pyrexia
- dizziness
- medical device malfunction
- vascular occlusion
- upper respiratory tract infection
Patients taking Procrit for Zidovudine-related anemia:
- pyrexia
- cough
- rash
- irritation at the injection site
Patients taking Procrit for chemotherapy-related anemia:
- nausea
- vomiting
- myalgia
- arthralgia
- stomatitis
- cough
- weight decrease
- leucopenia
- bone pain
- rash
- hyperglycemia
- insomnia
- headache
- depression
- dysphagia
- hypoklemia
- thrombosis
Surgical patients taking Procrit to reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions:
- nausea
- vomiting
- pruritus
- headache
- irritation at the injection site
- chills
- deep vein thrombosis
- cough
- hypertension
About Drug Side Effects
Procrit Allergic Reactions
The use of Procrit is contraindicated for patients with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to epoetin alfa or to any of the following inactive ingredients: albumin (human), sodium citrate, sodium chloride, and citric acid. Multidose vials contain benzyl alcohol while single-dose vials contain sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrate.[3]
Procrit Precautions and Warnings
- Procrit is contraindicated for patients who have heart disease or high blood pressure.[3]
- Procrit has been known to increase the risk of seizures in patients with CKD.[2]
- Patients taking Procrit may develop antibodies to Procrit, which could decrease the body’s ability to make red blood cells. This could result in severe anemia.[3]
- Procrit is classified as FDA pregnancy category C. There has not been an adequate study of Procrit use in pregnant women and animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus. It is not known if Procrit can pass through breast milk in nursing mothers.[4]
Also See: Drug Side Effects, Prescription Drugs, Aranesp Side Effects, Vitamin B12 Coupons
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