Other Brands/Names

This medicine is marketed under the brand name Nesp.

How It Works

Darbepoetin contains a synthetic form of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell (erythrocyte) production in the bone marrow, leading to the formation of mature red blood cells. In anemia caused by insufficient red blood cells, this effect is expected to increase the circulating red blood cell count.

Indications

This drug is used in anemic patients associated with chronic kidney disease or patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

Contraindication

There are several medical conditions contraindicared for this drug, namely:

• Previous allergic reaction to this medicine.

• Uncontrolled hypertension.

Side Effects

The following are the side effects of this drug:

• High or low blood pressure.

• Chest pain.

• Fatigue.

• Fever.

• Headache or dizziness.

• Generalized body pain.

• Increased potassium levels.

• Shortness of breath.

• Cough.

• Transient increase in platelet counts.

• Edema.

• Joint pain.

• Infection.

• Skin rash.

Types

This drug is available as 30 mcg/mL, 40 mcg/mL, 60 mcg/mL, and 100 mcg/mL injection medications.

Dosage

Drug doses vary according to the purpose of treatment, but patients will receive injections. The following is a dose of darbepoetin:

Anemia in chronic kidney disease

• Adults: initial dose is 0.45 mcg/kg once weekly, or 0.75 mcg/kg every 2 weeks, or 1.5 mcg/kg once monthly.

• Adjust the dose by about 25% of the initial dose every 4 weeks as needed based on hemoglobin levels.

• Usual recommended dosage is 0.45 mcg/kg every 1–2 weeks, with dose increases permitted to reach the target hemoglobin.

• Pediatric dosage follows the same weight-based approach as adults.

Anemia in cancer patients with chemotherapy

• Initial dose is 500 mcg every 3 weeks, or 2.25 mcg/kg once weekly.

• Titrate the dose according to hemoglobin response. Treatment may be stopped after 4 weeks and at the end of chemotherapy.

Safety

• Pregnancy Category C: animal studies show fetal risk, and adequate human data are lacking.

• It is unknown whether the drug is excreted in breast milk.

Drug Interactions

This drug may interact with antihypertensives such as captopril and lisinopril, with possible decreases in blood pressure and increases in serum potassium.

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