Indications
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta is a long-acting medicine used to treat anaemia (low red blood cells) caused by chronic kidney disease, both in people on dialysis and in those not yet on dialysis. It reduces tiredness and breathlessness caused by anaemia and lowers the need for blood transfusions.
How It Works
Healthy kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin, which tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Damaged kidneys make too little. This medicine is a man-made form of that hormone with an added chemical chain (polyethylene glycol) that makes it last much longer in the body, so it can be given less often.
Dosage and Administration
It is given as an injection under the skin or into a vein, usually once every two weeks or once a month, by a doctor or nurse, or by the patient after proper training. The dose is set by the doctor based on body weight and haemoglobin results and is adjusted over time. Do not change the dose or schedule yourself.
Interactions
- No important drug interactions are known.
- Iron supplements are often needed for the medicine to work well; the doctor will check iron levels.
- Medicines for blood pressure may need adjusting if blood pressure rises.
Contraindications
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure.
- Allergy to the medicine or any of its ingredients.
- Previous pure red cell aplasia (a condition where the marrow stops making red cells) after any similar medicine.
Side Effects
The most common side effect is high blood pressure. Others include headache, clotting of the dialysis access (fistula or graft), and reactions at the injection site. Rarely it can cause blood clots, stroke, seizures or serious skin reactions.
Get urgent medical help if you have chest pain, sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, trouble speaking, a severe headache, confusion or seizures, painful swelling of a leg, sudden breathlessness, a blistering or peeling rash, or unusual tiredness and paleness that gets worse despite treatment.
Pregnancy and Lactation
There is limited experience in pregnancy. It is used only if the doctor decides it is clearly needed. It is not known whether it passes into breast milk; discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.
Precautions and Warnings
Haemoglobin is checked regularly, and the dose is kept to the lowest that avoids transfusions, because aiming for too high a haemoglobin increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and clots. Blood pressure should be monitored and controlled. Tell your doctor about epilepsy, cancer, liver disease or sickle cell disease. It is not for anaemia caused by cancer chemotherapy unless a specialist decides so.
Overdose
Too much may raise haemoglobin too high. The doctor may pause treatment, and in some cases blood may be removed. Contact your doctor if you think an extra dose was given.
Therapeutic Class
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (long-acting epoetin); antianaemic.
Storage
Store in a refrigerator at 2 to 8°C. Do not freeze. Keep the pre-filled syringe in its carton to protect from light. Follow the pack for any time allowed at room temperature. Keep out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.