|
Roche / NeoRecormon
NeoRecormon injection contains the active ingredient epoetin beta, which is a synthetic version of the naturally-occurring hormone erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is produced by healthy kidneys. It stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.
Epoetin beta is used to treat anaemia in people with chronic kidney failure who are undergoing dialysis, and in people with impaired kidney function who do not yet need dialysis. These people produce very little erythropoietin as a result of their kidney disease, so the number of red blood cells in their blood is low (anaemia). When epoetin beta is injected, it stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, and this corrects the anaemia.
Epoetin beta is also used to treat anaemia in people with certain types of cancer. It is used to treat anaemia in adults with solid tumours who are receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. It is also used to treat anaemia in people with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, bone marrow cancer (multiple myeloma) or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who are receiving anti-tumour therapy. The increased red blood cell production stimulated by epoetin beta reduces the chances of these people needing a blood transfusion.
Premature babies born at less than 34 weeks gestation may also be given epoetin beta to stimulate the production of red blood cells and prevent the development of anaemia.
Doctors may also prescribe epoetin beta for anaemic people who are going to donate blood prior to surgery so that their own blood can be given to them during or after surgery. This is called an autologous blood pre-donation programme. Because the epoetin increases blood cell production, it means that a larger volume of blood can be taken from these people, and stored for transfusion during or after the surgery.
Your doctor may also prescribe you iron supplements while you are receiving this medicine so that the body has adequate iron stores for producing new red blood cells.
|
