Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of epoetin alfa-epbx single-dose vial in children 1 month of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 1 month of age with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, in children not on dialysis, or in children younger than 5 years of age with cancer. Epoetin alfa-epbx multiple-dose vial should not be used in newborn or infants.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of epoetin alfa-epbx injection in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Bleeding or
  • Infection or inflammation or
  • Iron or vitamin deficiency or
  • Metabolic or chronic inflammatory conditions—May cause a delay in response to treatment. These conditions must be corrected first before using this medicine.
  • Cancer—May cause some tumors to progress or come back.
  • Heart bypass surgery or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease or
  • Stroke, history of—The chance of side effects may be increased.
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure), uncontrolled or
  • Pure red cell aplasia (rare bone marrow disease)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Patients receiving dialysis—May require an increase in the dose of blood thinner (eg, heparin) to prevent the blood from clotting too much.
  • Phenylketonuria—Use with caution. This medicine contains phenylalanine which may cause serious unwanted effects in patients with this condition.
  • Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.