Epogen is a man-made form of a protein that helps your body produce red blood
cells. This protein may be reduced when you have kidney failure or use certain
medications. When fewer red blood cells are produced, you can develop a
condition called anemia.

Epogen is used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy or chronic kidney
disease, anemia caused by taking zidovudine to treat HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus), or anemia due to other reasons.

Epogen is also used to reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in
people having certain types of surgery.





Get emergency medical help if you have **signs of an allergic reaction to
Epogen** (hives, sweating, rapid pulse, wheezing, trouble breathing, severe
dizziness or fainting, swelling in your face or throat) **or a severe skin
reaction** (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin
rash with blistering and peeling).

Epogen can cause serious side effects, including heart attack or stroke.
**Seek emergency medical help if you have** :

  * **heart attack symptoms** \- chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

  * **signs of a stroke** \- sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance;

  * **signs of a blood clot** \- pain, swelling, warmth, redness, cold feeling, or pale appearance of an arm or leg; or

  * **increased blood pressure** \- severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  * unusual tiredness;

  * a seizure (convulsions);

  * **high blood sugar** \- increased thirst, increased urination, dry mouth, fruity breath odor;

  * **low potassium** \- leg cramps, constipation, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, increased thirst or urination, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness or limp feeling; or

  * **increased blood pressure** \- severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.

Common Epogen side effects may include:

  * increased blood pressure;

  * joint pain, bone pain, muscle pain;

  * itching or rash;

  * fever, chills, cough;

  * mouth pain, trouble swallowing;

  * nausea, vomiting;

  * headache, dizziness;

  * trouble sleeping;

  * depressed mood;

  * weight loss; or

  * pain or redness where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to
FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Epogen side effects (more detail)