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home > drugs a-z list > procrit (epoetin alfa) drug center
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Procrit
What is anemia?
Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal. The normal level of hemoglobin is generally different in males and females. For men, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml. These definitions may vary slightly depending on the source and the laboratory reference used.
What causes anemia?
Any process that can disrupt the normal life span of a red blood cell may cause anemia. Normal life span of a red blood cell is typically around 120 days. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow.
Anemia is caused essentially through two basic pathways. Anemia is caused by either:
- a decrease in production of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or
- an increase in loss or destruction of red blood cells.
A more common classification of anemia (low hemo...
Procrit
Procrit Drug Center
Pharmacy Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Procrit (epoetin alfa) is a glycoprotein that stimulates red blood cell production. It is used to treat anemia associated with kidney failure, HIV patients undergoing treatment, cancer patients undergoing therapy and certain surgical patients. Procrit is not available in a generic form. Common side effects are hypertension, headache, joint pains, nausea, edema, fatigue and diarrhea.
Procrit is available in vials; 1 mL of solution contains 2000, 3000, 4000 or 10,000 Units of Epoetin alfa. Single and multidose vials are available. Dose is determined by the prescribing doctor and the patient's condition. Serious side effects include blood clots, chest pain, seizures, strokes, myocardial infarction and death. The suspension contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol has been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of neurological and other complications in premature infants which are sometimes fatal; in pregnancy, risk is weighed against benefit. The drug has been used in the pediatric population with weight-based dose of 600 units/Kg, not to exceed 40,000units. This drug should only be used by practitioners trained in its use.
Our Procrit Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information as well as related drugs, user reviews, supplements, and diseases, and conditions.
What is Prescribing information?
The FDA package insert formatted in easy-to-find categories for health professionals and clinicians.
Procrit Prescribing Information: Indications & Dosage
Treatment of Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure Patients
PROCRIT® (epoetin alfa) is indicated for the treatment of anemia associated with CRF, including patients on dialysis and patients not on dialysis. PROCRIT® (epoetin alfa) is indicated to elevate or maintain the red blood cell level (as manifested by the hematocrit or hemoglobin determinations) and to decrease the need for transfusions in these patients.
Non-dialysis patients with symptomatic anemia considered for therapy should have a hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL.
PROCRIT® (epoetin alfa) is not in...
Read the complete drug monograph for Procrit »
What is Procrit Prescribing Information?
Drug Description - Indications & Dosage - Side Effects & Drug Interactions - Warnings & Precautions - Contraindications - Medication Guide and More
What is Patient information?
Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.
Procrit Patient Information: Side Effects
Contact your doctor if you feel weak, lightheaded, or short of breath, or if your skin looks pale. These may be signs that your body has stopped responding to this medication.
Epoetin alfa can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. This risk will increase the longer you use epoetin alfa. Seek emergency medical help if you have symptoms of heart or circulation problems, such as:
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
- feelin...
Read the complete patient information for Procrit »
What is Procrit Patient Information?
Possible Side Effects - Images - What Is - How Should I Take It - What If I Miss a Dose - What Should I Avoid and More
What is Consumer information?
A concise overview of the drug for the patient or caregiver from First DataBank.
Procrit Consumer Information: Uses
This medication is used to treat anemia (low red blood cell count) in people with long-term serious kidney disease (chronic renal failure), people receiving zidovudine to treat HIV, and people receiving chemotherapy for certain types of cancer (non-myeloid cancers). It may also be used in anemic patients to reduce the need for blood transfusions before certain planned surgeries that have a high risk of blood loss (usually combined with the "blood thinner" warfarin). Epoetin alfa helps to reverse anemia and improves your energy and activity level. It works by signaling the bone marrow to make m...
Read the complete consumer information for Procrit »
What is Procrit Consumer Information?
Warnings - Uses - How to Use - Side Effects - Precautions - Drug Interactions and More
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Additional Procrit Information
Procrit - User Reviews
Procrit User Reviews
Now you can gain knowledge and insight about a drug treatment with Patient Discussions.
Here is a collection of user reviews for the medication Procrit sorted by most helpful.
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