Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

This medicine is usually given by your doctor. However, medicines given by injection are sometimes used at home. If you will be using this medicine at home, your doctor will teach you how the injections are to be given. Be sure you understand exactly how the medicine is to be injected.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

This medicine may be given as a shot under your skin (usually in the upper arms, thighs, or stomach) or into a vein. If your doctor tells you to inject it a certain way, follow your doctor's instructions.

If you are giving this medicine at home:

  • Use a new needle and unopened syringe each time you inject your medicine.
  • Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
  • You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Do not inject into moles or areas that are tender, red, bruised, hard, or has scars, stretch marks, not intact, or that could be irritated by a belt or waistband. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections.
  • Check the liquid in the prefilled syringe. It must be clear or colorless to slightly yellow. Do not use it if the solution in the prefilled syringe becomes cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Do not shake.
  • Do not save any leftover medicine from an open syringe. Use each syringe only 1 time.

People with kidney problems need to be on a special diet. Also, people with high blood pressure (which may be caused by kidney disease or by Mircera® treatment) may need to be on a special diet or take medicine to keep their blood pressure under control. After their anemia has been corrected, some people feel so much better that they want to eat more than before. To keep your kidney disease or your high blood pressure from getting worse, it is very important that you follow your special diet and you take your medicines regularly, even if you are feeling better.

In addition to Mircera®, your body needs iron and vitamins to make red blood cells. Your doctor may direct you to take iron or vitamin supplements. Be sure to follow your doctor's orders carefully.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (prefilled syringe):
    • For patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 1.2 microgram (mcg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected under the skin once every month. Some patients may receive a starting dose of 0.6 microgram (mcg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected into a vein or under the skin once every 2 weeks. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The starting dose is 0.6 microgram (mcg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected into a vein or under the skin once every 2 weeks. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed.
      • Children 5 to 17 years of age—Dose is based on your child's hemoglobin level or whether he or she is receiving epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa and must be determined by your doctor. The dose may be 48 mcg (from epoetin) or 145.5 mcg (from darbepoetin) given through a needle placed into your child's vein once every 4 weeks.
      • Children younger than 5 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

If you store this medicine at home, keep it in the original package until you are ready to use it. Protect it from direct light. You may store it at room temperature for up to 30 days. Throw away any unused medicine after 30 days.

Throw away used needles and syringes in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

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