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Epogen vs. Procrit

Epogen (epoetin alfa) is an injection used to treat certain types of anemia, or low red blood cell count. It's FDA approved for people with anemia caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD), HIV treatment with zidovudine, or cancer chemotherapy. It's also used to reduce the need for blood transfusions in people undergoing certain surgeries. You can get the medication as an injection under the skin or into a vein. Depending on your condition, you might take it once a day, once a week, or 3 times a week. Common side effects include high blood pressure, fever, and muscle or joint pain.

• Treat anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), taking zidovudine for HIV, or cancer chemotherapy
• Reduce the need for blood transfusions before certain surgeries

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

• High blood pressure (up to 28%)
• Joint pain (up to 16%)
• Fever (10%)
• Dizziness (10%)

Taking zidovudine for HIV

• Fever (42%)
• Cough (26%)
• Rash (19%)

Cancer chemotherapy

• Nausea (35%)
• Vomiting (20%)
• Muscle pain (10%)
• Joint pain (10%)
• Mouth sores (10%)

Certain surgeries

• Nausea (up to 56)
• Vomiting (up to 28%)
• Itchiness (up to 21%)
• Headache (up to 18%)
• Injection-site pain (up to 13%)

• Higher risk of death and serious events
• Cancer survival and tumor growth
• High blood pressure
• Seizures
• No hemoglobin response
• Red blood cell condition
• Serious allergic reactions
• Severe skin reactions
• Risk of serious gasping syndrome in babies
• Risk of infection from human blood

Procrit (epoetin alfa) is an injection used to treat anemia, or low red blood cell count, caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD), taking zidovudine for HIV, or cancer chemotherapy. It's also used to reduce the need for blood transfusions in people undergoing certain surgeries. The medication given as a shot under the skin or into a vein, often in a clinic, dialysis center, or sometimes at home. Depending on your condition, you might take it once a day, once a week, or 3 times a week. Common side effects include high blood pressure, fever, and muscle or joint pain.

• Treat anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD), taking zidovudine for HIV, or cancer chemotherapy
• Reduce the need for blood transfusions before certain surgeries

Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

• High blood pressure (up to 28%)
• Joint pain (up to 16%)
• Fever (10%)
• Dizziness (10%)

Taking zidovudine for HIV

• Fever (42%)
• Cough (26%)
• Rash (19%)

Cancer chemotherapy

• Nausea (35%)
• Vomiting (20%)
• Muscle pain (10%)
• Joint pain (10%)
• Mouth sores (10%)

Certain surgeries

• Nausea (up to 56)
• Vomiting (up to 28%)
• Itchiness (up to 21%)
• Headache (up to 18%)
• Injection-site pain (up to 13%)

• Higher risk of death and serious events
• Cancer survival and tumor growth
• High blood pressure
• Seizures
• No hemoglobin response
• Red blood cell condition
• Serious allergic reactions
• Severe skin reactions
• Risk of serious gasping syndrome in babies
• Risk of infection from human blood