(epoetin alfa-epbx)

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What are the possible side effects of RETACRIT?

What are the possible side effects of RETACRIT?

RETACRIT may cause serious side effects, including:

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See "What is the most important information I should know about RETACRIT?"
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High blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common side effect of RETACRIT in people with chronic kidney disease. Your blood pressure may go up or be difficult to control with blood pressure medicine while taking RETACRIT. This can happen even if you have never had high blood pressure before. Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure often. If your blood pressure does go up, your healthcare provider may prescribe new or more blood pressure medicine.
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Seizures. If you have any seizures while taking RETACRIT, get medical help right away and tell your healthcare provider.
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Antibodies to RETACRIT. Your body may make antibodies to RETACRIT. These antibodies can block or lessen your body's ability to make RBCs and cause you to have severe anemia. Call your healthcare provider if you have unusual tiredness, lack of energy, dizziness, or fainting. You may need to stop taking RETACRIT.
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Serious allergic reactions. Serious allergic reactions can cause a skin rash, itching, shortness of breath, wheezing, dizziness and fainting because of a drop in blood pressure, swelling around your mouth or eyes, fast pulse, or sweating. If you have a serious allergic reaction, stop using RETACRIT and call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
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Severe skin reactions. Signs and symptoms of severe skin reactions with RETACRIT may include: skin rash with itching, blisters, skin sores, peeling, or areas of skin coming off. If you have any signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction, stop using RETACRIT and call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away.
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Dangers of using RETACRIT from multiple-dose vials in newborns, infants, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not use RETACRIT from multiple-dose vials in newborns, infants, pregnant or breastfeeding women because the RETACRIT in these vials contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol has been shown to cause brain damage, other serious side effects, and death in newborn and premature babies. If you use RETACRIT from multiple-dose vials you should not breastfeed for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. RETACRIT that comes in single-dose vials does not contain benzyl alcohol. See "Who should not take RETACRIT?"

Common side effects of RETACRIT include:

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joint, muscle, or bone pain
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fever
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cough
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dizziness
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high blood sugar
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low potassium levels in the blood
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chills
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redness and pain at the RETACRIT injection site
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rash
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nausea
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vomiting
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blood vessel blockage
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low white blood cells
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trouble sleeping
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difficulty swallowing
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soreness of mouth
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itching
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headache
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respiratory infection
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weight decrease
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depression
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muscle spasm

These are not all of the possible side effects of RETACRIT. Your healthcare provider can give you a more complete list. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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