Epoetin and Darbepoetin in Chemotherapy Anemia (Label Rules)
Epoetin and darbepoetin in chemotherapy anemia, by the Epogen and Aranesp label rules.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Agent and schedule
- Epoetin alfa, adult, weekly
- Stage
- On therapy: test the dose-adjustment rules
- Hemoglobin now
- 9.5 g/dL
- On therapy: current dose per administration
- 40000
- On therapy: weeks on the ESA
- 3 weeks
- On therapy: hemoglobin 2 weeks ago
- 8.2 g/dL
- On therapy: transfusion-avoiding level
- Below the level needed to avoid transfusion
- On therapy: red cell transfusions still required
- No
- On therapy: chemotherapy course completed
- No
Result: Epoetin alfa: hemoglobin rose 1.3 g/dL in 2 weeks (more than 1 g/dL). The label says to reduce the dose by 25%: 40,000 Units to 30,000 Units weekly.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What you enter
- Agent and schedule
- Stage
- Hemoglobin now
- Weight (needed for a schedule dosed per kg)
- Not started: months of chemotherapy still planned
- On therapy: current dose per administration (Units for epoetin, mcg for darbepoetin)
- On therapy: weeks on the ESA
- On therapy: hemoglobin 2 weeks ago (optional)
- On therapy: hemoglobin when the ESA was started (optional)
The other 3 fields
- On therapy: transfusion-avoiding level, where the hemoglobin stands
- On therapy: red cell transfusions still required
- On therapy: chemotherapy course completed
How this is calculated
Citation
FDA labels on DailyMed: Epogen (epoetin alfa), section 2.4, and Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), section 2.3 and Table 2 (start under 10 g/dL with two more months of chemotherapy; reduce 25% or 40%; increase after 4 or 6 weeks; discontinue at 8 weeks). Read the sources: Epogen label ↗, Aranesp label ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.