Formulary
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in patients on dialysis and not currently treated with erythropoietins**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection, Or By Intravenous Injection): Initially 600 nanograms/kg every 2 weeks, subcutaneous route preferred in patients not on haemodialysis, dose to be adjusted according to response at intervals of at least 1 month, maintenance dose of double the previous fortnightly dose may be given once a month if haemoglobin concentration is above 10 g/100 mL, reduce dose by approximately 25% if rate of rise in haemoglobin concentration exceeds 2 g/100 mL in 1 month or if haemoglobin concentration is increasing or approaching 12 g/100 mL; if haemoglobin concentration continues to rise, despite dose reduction, suspend treatment until haemoglobin concentration decreases and then restart at a dose approximately 25% lower than the previous dose, dose may be increased by approximately 25% if the rate of rise in haemoglobin concentration is less than 1 g/100 mL over 1 month; further increases of approximately 25% may be made at monthly intervals until the individual target haemoglobin concentration is obtained.
**Symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease in patients currently treated with erythropoietins**
- **Adult** (By Subcutaneous Injection, Or By Intravenous Injection): (consult product literature).
Cautions
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Bone marrow fibrosis (can impair the response to erythropoietin); concurrent infection (can impair the response to erythropoietin); haematological disease (can impair the response to erythropoietin); haemolysis (can impair the response to erythropoietin); inflammatory or traumatic episodes (can impair the response to erythropoietin); malignant disease; occult blood loss (can impair the response to erythropoietin); severe aluminium toxicity (can impair the response to erythropoietin)
Contraindications
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Pure red cell aplasia following erythropoietin therapy; uncontrolled hypertension
Side effects
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Common or very common Hypertension (dose-dependent) Uncommon Embolism and thrombosis; headache Rare or very rare Hot flush; hypertensive encephalopathy; rash maculopapular Frequency not known Pure red cell aplasia (discontinue); severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs); thrombocytopenia
Pregnancy
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta No evidence of harm in animal studies- manufacturer advises caution.
Breast feeding
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk-present in milk in animal studies.
Renal impairment
For methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta Manufacturer advises caution with escalation of doses in chronic renal failure.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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