Sign Out
Hematocrit should be monitored regularly (once a week in correction phase and every other weeks in maintenance phase), to avoid excessive erythropoiesis (hematocrit should be no more than 36 vol%). Epiao should be discontinued if excessive erythropoiesis occurs.
Diet habits should be modified to prevent hyperkalemia and dose should be adjusted according to the physician's instructions when hyperkalemia occurs.
Attention should be brought up to patients with symptoms eg, cardiac infarction, pulmonary infarction, cerebral infarction or with manifestation of allergy.
If serum ferritin is <100 ng/mL or transferrin saturation <20%, supplemental iron is required.
If a patient fails to respond or maintain a response to Epiao therapy, the following etiologies should be considered: Folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiency and aluminum intoxication.
Be cautious in administering the erythropoietin preparation to patients with history of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA).
Effects on the Ability to Drive or Operate Machinery: Patients should be cautious to avoid potentially hazardous activities eg, driving or operating heavy machinery during therapy, since there is higher tendency of seizures and hypertension in patients treated with Epiao.
Use in pregnancy & lactation: The safety of epoetin α in pregnant women has not been established. Epoetin α should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
It is not known whether epoetin α is excreted in human milk. Caution should be taken when epoetin α is administered to a nursing mother.
Use in children: The safety and effectiveness of epoetin α have not been established in infants and children, but generally it is considered safe.
Use in the elderly: Monitor blood pressure, hemoglobin or hematocrit frequently and adjust the doses and administration frequency properly, in consideration of hypertension and circulatory system diseases.
