What is the most important information I should know about darbepoetin alfa?
This medicine can increase your risk of life-threatening heart or circulation problems, including heart attack or stroke. Seek emergency medical help if you have: chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, problems with vision or balance, trouble speaking or understanding, or pain or coldness in an arm or leg.
Darbepoetin alfa may also shorten remission time or survival time in some people with certain types of cancer. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using darbepoetin alfa.
What is darbepoetin alfa?
Darbepoetin alfa is a man-made form of a protein that helps your body produce red blood cells.
Darbepoetin alfa is used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy or chronic kidney disease.
Darbepoetin alfa may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using darbepoetin alfa?
You should not use darbepoetin alfa if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure; or
- if you have ever had pure red cell aplasia (PRCA, a type of anemia) caused by using darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa.
Darbepoetin alfa may shorten remission time in some people with head and neck cancer who are also being treated with radiation. Darbepoetin alfa may also shorten survival time in certain people with breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, or lymphoid cancer. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure;
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- a stroke, heart attack, or blood clot;
- a seizure; or
- a latex allergy.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How should I use darbepoetin alfa?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Darbepoetin alfa is given every 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the condition you are treating. You may also need to take blood pressure medication. Follow your doctor's instructions very carefully.
Darbepoetin alfa is injected under the skin, or given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give your first dose and may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. You must know how to properly measure a full or partial dose of this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all instructions.
Do not shake the medicine. Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your injections may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Call your doctor if you feel weak, tired, light-headed, or short of breath, or if your skin looks pale. These may be signs that your body has stopped responding to darbepoetin alfa.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using darbepoetin alfa.
Store in the refrigerator and protect from light. Do not freeze darbepoetin alfa, and throw away the medicine if it has become frozen.
Each vial (bottle) or prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw it away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.
Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of darbepoetin alfa.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using darbepoetin alfa?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of darbepoetin alfa?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, wheezing, difficult breathing, severe dizziness or fainting, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).
Darbepoetin 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 darbepoetin alfa. Seek emergency medical help if you have:
-
heart attack symptoms --chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;
-
signs of a stroke --sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), confusion, sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;
-
signs of a blood clot --pain, swelling, warmth, redness, cold feeling, or pale appearance of an arm or leg; or
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increased blood pressure --severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- unusual weakness or tiredness;
- a seizure (convulsions); or
- shortness of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain.
Common side effects may include:
- low blood pressure during dialysis;
- cough, trouble breathing;
- stomach pain; or
- swelling in your arms or legs.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect darbepoetin alfa?
Other drugs may affect darbepoetin alfa, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about darbepoetin alfa.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 12.01. Revision date: 2/26/2020.
