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|Procrit

Procrit

Procrit is used for:

Treating anemia in certain patients with kidney failure, HIV, or cancer. It may also be used to reduce the need for blood transfusions in some patients undergoing surgery, or for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Procrit is a glycoprotein. It works by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

Do NOT use Procrit if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Procrit , to human albumin, or to products that come from mammalian cells
• you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or certain red blood cell problems (eg, aplasia)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Procrit :

Some medical conditions may interact with Procrit . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of seizures; a blood disorder (eg, porphyria, sickle cell anemia); bleeding or clotting problems; heart problems (eg, congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease); high blood pressure; low blood iron, folic acid, or vitamin B₁₂ levels; high blood aluminum levels; an infection; inflammatory condition; or certain bone problems (osteitis fibrosa)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Procrit . However, no specific interactions with this medicine are known at this time. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Procrit may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Procrit :

Use Procrit as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• An additional patient leaflet is available with Procrit . Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
• If you are using Procrit at home, a health care professional will provide detailed instructions for its appropriate use. Ask them any questions that you may have about your medicine or giving injections.
• When drawing up a dose into a syringe, be sure to follow the procedure demonstrated to you to prevent contamination of the vial, syringe, or medicine. Never touch the rubber stopper of the vial or the needle of the syringe with your fingers.
• Always carefully check that you have drawn up the correct dose before administration.
• Do not shake Procrit .
• Do not dilute Procrit or use it with other solutions.
• If you are using a single-dose vial, throw away any medicine left in the vial after you have used your dose. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider if you have questions about whether you are using a single-dose vial.
• If Procrit contains particles or is discolored, or if the vial is cracked or damaged in any way, do not use it.
• Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles out of the reach of children and away from pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Dispose of properly after use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain local regulations for proper disposal.
• Continue to use Procrit even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Procrit , use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Procrit .

Important safety information:

• Procrit may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Procrit . Using Procrit alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• It may take several weeks for Procrit to work. Do not stop taking Procrit without checking with your doctor.
• It is important to follow your doctor"s instructions about diet and dialysis exactly.
• Rarely, Procrit can lose its effectiveness after a period of time, and a very serious anemia can result. Tell your doctor immediately if symptoms of anemia recur, such as increased fatigue/weakness or pale skin color.
• Procrit contains albumin, which comes from human blood. There is an extremely rare risk of developing a viral disease or a central nervous system disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. No cases of viral diseases or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from albumin have been identified.
• Some patients who have stopped having menstrual periods may experience a return of menstrual periods following treatment with Procrit . Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about the possibility of becoming pregnant or the need for birth control.
• Lab tests, such as kidney function, blood pressure, complete blood counts, or hemoglobin levels, will be required to monitor therapy or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Procrit may contain benzyl alcohol, a preservative. Do not use medicine containing benzyl alcohol in NEWBORNS or INFANTS because serious and sometimes fatal nervous system problems and other side effects may occur.
• Use Procrit with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 1 month of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risk of using Procrit during pregnancy. It is unknown if Procrit is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Procrit , check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Procrit :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; cough; diarrhea; headache; indigestion; joint or muscle aches; nausea; respiratory congestion; sleeplessness; stinging at the injection site; stomach pain; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); calf pain or tenderness; chest pain; confusion; fever, chills, or sore throat; increased fatigue/weakness; increased or rapid heartbeat; irritation at the injection site; numbness or tingling of the skin; numbness of an arm or leg; one-sided weakness; pale skin color; seizures; severe stomach pain; shortness of breath; sudden severe headache, dizziness, vomiting, or fainting; swelling of the fingers, ankles, or legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; vision or speech problems; weight gain.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store Procrit in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze or shake. Keep Procrit , as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Procrit , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Procrit is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Procrit . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.