About MIRCERA 100mcg Injection
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection belongs to the class of medication called ‘blood-forming agent’ primarily used to treat anaemia (low red blood cell count) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), anaemia in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer, and preventing anaemia in premature infants. Anaemia occurs when the body has fewer red blood cells or haemoglobin. Chronic kidney disease damages the kidney and doesn’t filter the blood, leading to anaemia.
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection contains a human-made protein known as ‘Epoetin beta’, which works by providing signals to the bone marrow to make more red blood cells (RBCs). MIRCERA 100mcg Injection helps to reverse anaemia and reduce the need for blood transfusion. MIRCERA 100mcg Injection is a biologic response modifier and erythropoiesis-stimulating protein. In chronic kidney disease, when the kidney fails to produce sufficient ‘erythropoietin protein’, which aids in forming red blood cells, MIRCERA 100mcg Injection stimulates the production of this protein in the bone marrow.
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection will be administered by a qualified healthcare professional. Kindly do not self-administer. The most common side effects of MIRCERA 100mcg Injection are lower iron levels in the blood, allergic reaction, injection site pain, increased blood pressure and headaches. Most of these side effects of MIRCERA 100mcg Injection do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
If you have uncontrolled/untreated high blood pressure, new or increasing chest pain, or if you are at risk of blood clots in the veins (deep venous thrombosis), please inform your doctor before taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection to avoid any complications. It is not known whether the MIRCERA 100mcg Injection will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before starting treatment with this medicine. MIRCERA 100mcg Injection is a cold chain medicine, so it must be stored in the refrigerator between 2-8 degrees Celsius, or its efficiency might be lost. Do not store in the freezer.
Uses Of MIRCERA 100mcg Injection
- Anaemia in cancer, Anemia in chronic kidney disease, and anaemia in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
Medicinal Benefits
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection is a human-made form of naturally occurring erythropoiesis-stimulating protein or erythropoietin (a hormone produced by the kidney’s specialized cells and is responsible for protecting red blood cells against destruction and stimulates the cells of bone marrow to produce more amount of red blood cells). A deficiency of erythropoietin happens when a person suffers from chronic kidney disease, which causes a low red blood cell count, causing anaemia. This medicine is primarily used for treating anaemia (low red blood cell count) in persons with long-term serious (chronic) kidney disease and those receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer except bone marrow or blood cell cancer. MIRCERA 100mcg Injection is also used to reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in adults having certain types of surgery. MIRCERA 100mcg Injection contains a protein, ‘Epoetin beta’, which signals the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
Directions For Use
Storage
- Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight
Side Effects Of MIRCERA 100mcg Injection
- Low levels of iron in their blood
- Allergies or skin reactions
- Pain at the injection site
- Body aches
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Increase in blood pressure
- Headaches (especially sudden, stabbing, migraine-like headaches)
- Confusion
- Speech disturbance
- Unsteady walking
- Fits or convulsions
Precautions And Warning
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection can enhance the risk of blood clots and serious heart problems, including heart attack so tell your doctor immediately if you notice shortness of breath, sudden numbness or weakness, chest pain, or trouble speaking or understanding. This medicine may speed up tumour growth or shorten remission or survival time in some people with certain cancer types. Inform your doctor before taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, blood clot, or seizure. Do not take MIRCERA 100mcg Injection if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by the doctor. MIRCERA 100mcg Injection may affect a person’s ability to drive as it may cause convulsions during the initial days of treatment, so a person taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection should avoid driving or operating any machine. Avoid consuming alcohol with MIRCERA 100mcg Injection as it could lead to increased dizziness and sleepiness.
Interactions
Drug Interactions: Thalidomide, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, pomalidomide (medication used to treat cancer), the protein found in the fluid of blood — C1 esterase inhibitor (human); cyclosporine (immunosuppressant medication) and pegvaliase (medicine to treat PKU (phenylketonuria).
Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection as it might cause increased dizziness and sleepiness.
Disease Interactions: Pure red cell aplasia (a rare disorder of blood production), hypertension, seizures, hemodialysis.
Drug Interactions
- Thalidomide
- Carfilzomib
- Lenalidomide
- Pomalidomide
- Cyclosporine
- Pegvaliase
- C1 Esterase Inhibitor
Safety Advice
Alcohol
Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection as it may increase dizziness and sleepiness.
Pregnancy
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection should not be used when pregnancy unless clearly necessary. So, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing MIRCERA 100mcg Injection.
Breast Feeding
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection should not be used in nursing mothers unless necessary. So, inform your doctor if you are a nursing mother. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing MIRCERA 100mcg Injection. Consult your doctor before taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection, and your doctor will decide whether MIRCERA 100mcg Injection can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection causes convulsions (seizures), especially during the initial months of treatment. So, it is better not to drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
Inform your doctor before receiving the MIRCERA 100mcg Injection if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on your current kidney conditions.
Kidney
Inform your doctor before receiving the MIRCERA 100mcg Injection if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions. Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on your current kidney conditions.
Children
MIRCERA 100mcg Injection should not be given to neonates as their safety and efficacy have not been established.
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Limit the consumption of fluids, salt, potassium, phosphorous, and other electrolytes.
- Eat a low-protein diet, and get enough calories from the foods if you lose weight.
- Eat foods high in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid can fulfil the deficiencies of happening in kidney disease.
- Include a small number of healthy fats in your diet that give you enough energy to be active during the day; however, try to limit fats that make you fat. Try to include olive oil, peanut, and corn in your diet.
- Rest well, and get plenty of sleep.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Using essential oils for massages can help increase circulation.
Special Advise
- Certain diagnostic tests like Complete blood count (CBC) can help check the count of red blood cells.
- Have regular haemoglobin tests to check whether there is an improvement in the level of red blood cells after taking MIRCERA 100mcg Injection or not.
- You should not use MIRCERA 100mcg Injection if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) or if you have ever had pure red cell aplasia (PRCA, a type of anaemia) caused by using MIRCERA 100mcg Injection.
- Call your doctor at once if you experience any sign of a blood clot, sudden numbness or weakness, blur vision, speech problem, chest pain, trouble breathing, pain, or cold feeling in the leg or arm.
- Discard any leftover medicine in a multi-dose vial of MIRCERA 100mcg Injection 21 days after the first use.
