darbepoetin alfa – injection, Aranesp

Warning Medication Uses How To Use Side Effects Precautions Drug Interactions Overdose Notes Missed Dose Storage WARNING: Discuss the risks and benefits of use for darbepoetin alfa with your doctor, as this medication may rarely cause very serious (possibly fatal) side effects, including blood clots. It will be important to keep all laboratory test appointments, as your doctor will need to check your red blood cell tests (hemoglobin). The lowest effective dose of this medication should be used. When used to treat anemia related to cancer, this medication may increase the risk of death and/or cause your tumor to grow faster. Therefore, your doctor should have special training to prescribe this medication and discuss the risks and benefits. This medication should be stopped after completing chemotherapy as directed by your doctor. USES: This medication is used to treat anemia in people with long-term kidney disease and people receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer. Darbepoetin alfa helps to reverse anemia and reduce the need for blood transfusions. It works by signaling the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. This medication is similar to the natural substance in your body that prevents anemia. HOW TO USE: Read the Medication Guide and Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. Learn all preparation and usage instructions in the product package. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. This medication is given as an injection under the skin or into a vein as directed by your doctor. Hemodialysis patients should receive this medication by injection into a vein. Do not shake this medication and do not mix it with other drugs or IV solutions. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. If you are injecting this medication under the skin, change the location of the injection site every time to avoid problem areas under the skin. Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist. The dosage is based on your medical condition, weight, and response to treatment. Blood tests should be performed frequently to check how well this medication is working and to determine the correct dose for you. Consult your doctor for more details. Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often than directed. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it on the same day each week as directed. It may take 2 to 6 weeks before your red blood cell count increases. Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or worsen.

SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, body aches, diarrhea, and irritation at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Darbepoetin alfa may sometimes cause or worsen high blood pressure, especially in patients with long-term kidney failure. This effect may be caused by the number of red blood cells increasing too quickly, usually within the first 3 months of starting treatment. If you have high blood pressure, it should be controlled before beginning treatment with this medication. Your blood pressure should be checked frequently. Ask your doctor if you should learn how to monitor your own blood pressure. If high blood pressure develops or worsens, follow your doctor’s instructions about diet changes and starting or adjusting your high blood pressure medication. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and further kidney problems. Keep all laboratory appointments to have your blood count tested regularly to reduce the chance of this side effect. Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including seizures. This medication may rarely cause blood clots. Get medical help right away if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: pain/redness/swelling/weakness of the arms or legs, calf pain/swelling that is warm to the touch, new/worsening shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sudden vision changes, slurred speech, confusion, weakness on one side of the body, sudden severe headache, chest/jaw/left arm pain, irregular heartbeat, fainting, blood clots in your hemodialysis vascular access site. Rarely, this medication may suddenly stop working well after a period of time because your body may make antibodies that reduce the effectiveness of darbepoetin alfa, and a very serious anemia can result. Tell your doctor immediately if symptoms of anemia return. Though very unlikely to occur, this product may contain substances such as viruses that could cause infections because it may contain albumin from human blood. Careful screening of blood donors, special manufacturing methods, and tests are all used to reduce this risk. Discuss the benefits and risks of treatment with your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any signs of an infection. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Before using darbepoetin alfa, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or to other drugs that cause more red blood cells to be made; or to products containing human albumin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: high blood pressure, blood disorders, bleeding/clotting problems, blood vessel problems, heart problems, seizure disorder, certain metabolic disorder, certain vitamin deficiencies. Infrequently, patients with long-term kidney failure on dialysis may be at increased risk of seizures during the first 3 months of treatment with this medication. Therefore, these patients should use caution and avoid activities such as driving or using machinery during this period. Limit alcoholic beverages because alcohol may also increase the risk of seizures. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. In some women of child-bearing age, menstrual periods have resumed during treatment with a similar drug. If this occurs with darbepoetin alfa treatment, it may be possible to get pregnant while using this medication. Discuss the need for birth control with your doctor. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call their local poison control center. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. NOTES: Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests must be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Blood tests for your iron levels will also be performed and you may be prescribed iron supplements to take. Your doctor may recommend that you eat a well-balanced diet rich in iron. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store the medication in the refrigerator between 36-46 degrees F. Do not freeze. Protect it from light. Store the medication in the original carton until ready for use. Let the medication come to room temperature before using. After each dose, discard any unused medication immediately. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Information last revised January 2014. Copyright(c) 2014 First Databank, Inc.

Related Disease Conditions

Kidney (Renal) Failure

Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, or medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure include sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.

Cancer

Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.