Epogen Dosage

Epogen dosing usually starts at either 150 units per kg of weight three times a week or 40,000 units per week. For anemia due to kidney failure, the recommended dose is 50 to 100 units per kg three times a week. The suggested Epogen dosage for treating anemia due to zidovudine use is 100 units per kg three times a week for eight weeks.

Epogen Drug Information

Epogen Dosage: An Introduction

The dose of Epogen^® (epoetin alfa) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:

How you respond to Epogen (as measured by blood tests)
The cause of your anemia
Your weight
Other medications you may be taking
Other medical conditions you may have.

As always, do not adjust your Epogen dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.

Epogen Dosage for Anemia Due to Chemotherapy

There are two different Epogen dosing options when treating anemia due to chemotherapy:

Once-a-week dosing -- Epogen 40,000 units per week
Three-times-a-week dosing -- Epogen 150 units per kg (about 68 units per pound) three times a week.

When treating anemia due to chemotherapy, the injections under the skin, rather than the IV, are recommended. Your healthcare provider will check your progress frequently, using a blood test that measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood (hemoglobin is a good way to measure anemia) and will adjust your dose in order to gradually increase your hemoglobin up to 12 g/dL.

(Epogen Dosage Continued: Page 2)