What is Procrit?

• Procrit is a drug that mimics erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates cells in the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells. Red blood cells are needed to carry oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs in the body.
   
• Some medications, such as Retrovir® (AZT) used to treat HIV, ribavirin (Rebetol®; Copegus®) used to treat hepatitis C, and chemotherapy used to treat cancer can damage red blood cells or the cells in the bone marrow used to produce new red blood cells. This is a condition called anemia, which can result in extreme fatigue. Injections of Procrit can help stimulate the production of red blood cells to reverse anemia.
   
• Procrit is marketed by Ortho Biotech. For HIV-positive people, it is approved specifically for the treatment of anemia caused by Retrovir. However, it can also be used to help treat anemia caused by other medications used to treat HIV and AIDS (e.g., hepatitis C).
   
• Your doctor should perform three important blood tests to determine if you might benefit from Procrit. These include the amount of hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, and the hematocrit. In general, the normal hemoglobin count is 14 g/dL to 18 g/dL for men and 12 g/dL to 16 g/dL for women. Hematocrit refers to the amount of your blood that is occupied by red blood cells. For men, the hematocrit should be between 40% and 52%; for women, it should be between 35% and 46%. Someone with a low hemoglobin and hematocrit is said to have anemia. Both of these tests are done as part of a Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test. Another important blood test is a measure of the erythropoietin level. Procrit works best for HIV-positive people who have 500 mUnits/mL or less natural erythropoietin in their bloodstream.

• Procrit is an injectable medication. It can be administered using a small hypodermic needle, similar to the ones used by diabetics to administer insulin, or administered directly into a vein, such as through an intravenous (IV) line.
   
• Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and where to inject your medication. Do not give yourself an injection if you are not sure how to inject yourself, how much to inject, or how often to inject your medication. Call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for help with the instructions.
   
• The dose depends on your body body weight (100 mg per kilogram of body weight). For example, someone who weights 165 pounds weighs 75 kilograms. For this person, the dose should be 7500 units per injection. This dose of Procrit needs to be given three times a week for eight weeks. The Procrit dose may need to be increased if the 100 unit/kg dose is not working effectively.
   
• After eight weeks of treatment, your doctor should check your hematocrit level. Procrit therapy should be stopped if the hematocrit level is greater that 40%. Procrit should only be restarted if the hematocrit level drops to 36% or lower. If Procrit is restarted, the dose should be 25% less than the dose used during the first eight weeks of treatment.
   
• Procrit dosages are different for people with anemia not related to Retrovir® (AZT) treatment, such as anemia caused by surgery, cancer, or kidney problems. If your anemia is related to other (non-HIV) causes, consult with your healthcare provider for more appropriate information.
   
• Store Procrit in the refrigerator at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) away from light, moisture, and the reach of children.
   
• Allow the medication to reach room temperature before measuring a dose.
   
• Do not shake the vial of Procrit. Vigorous shaking can ruin the medication.
   
• Do not inject any medication that is cloudy, discolored, or that has particles in it.
   
• There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity during therapy with Procrit unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

• In clinical trials, the side effects of Procrit were similar to the side effects seen in people who took a placebo, meaning that Procrit does not appear to have any treatment-specific side effects. Clinical trial volunteers taking Procrit were slightly more likely to experience fevers and pain/irritation at the injection site than those taking placebo.
   
• During the first 3 months of treatment with Procrit, use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Procrit has been reported to cause seizures in patients on dialysis, although this side effect is uncommon. If seizures occur, they generally do so during the first 90 days of treatment.
   
• Although few side effects have been documented, they may occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, epilepsy or another seizure disorder. You may not be able to use Procrit, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring if you have any of these conditions.
   
• Procrit is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether Procrit will harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
   
• It is also not known whether Procrit passes into breast milk. Do not use this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• If you are having a difficult time getting Procrit paid for through your health insurance plan or another third-party reimbursement program, Ortho Biotech provides a combination of services and programs to assist patients and their doctors with their reimbursement needs: 1-800-553-3851.