How Assistance Works
Streamlining our patient’s specialty pharmacy experience with unmatched full-service convenience
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1. Check Your Coverage/Benefits Verification
Our team of expert billers finds the best avenues of coverage that minimize out-of-pocket costs.
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2. Transfer Prescription to AmeriPharma®
We process your prescription by working with your previous pharmacy or prescriber, making the transition quick and easy.
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3. Prior Authorization
Our team of specialists obtains approval from your insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours.
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4. Copay Assistance & Financial Aid
We secure financial aid and decrease copays, out-of-pocket expenses, and high deductibles. To date, AmeriPharma® Specialty Care has secured $55 million in financial assistance for our patients.
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5. Nursing Care Coordination If Needed
AmeriPharma® puts your schedule and home environment first when scheduling and coordinating one of our specialized nurses for your in-home infusions.
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6. Delivery Coordination
Medications are always delivered in strict compliance with the specific requirements for shipping. Next-day and overnight cold-chain deliveries are coordinated around your schedule.
Epogen Overview
Epoetin alfa is an FDA-approved medicine to treat anemia associated with chemotherapy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), or zidovudine treatment in patients with HIV. While Epogen and Procrit share the same active ingredient (epoetin alfa), they are marketed for different uses: Epogen is primarily indicated for patients on dialysis, whereas Procrit is marketed for non-dialysis uses and oncology adjunctive care. Epogen was initially marketed by Amgen in 1989, while Procrit is distributed by Johnson & Johnson.
You can get Epogen as an injection under the skin or directly into your dialysis line. The dosage of Epogen may vary depending on your condition. Some common side effects of this drug include high blood pressure, fever, and muscle or joint pain.
FDA-Approved Uses
Epogen is approved by the FDA to treat anemia in patients if it is caused by:
- Chronic kidney disease (a patient who may or may not be on dialysis)
- Cancer chemotherapy that will be used for at least 2 months after starting Epogen
- An antiviral drug called zidovudine (AZT) used to treat HIV
Epogen may also be used to reduce the need for blood transfusion during certain types of surgeries, where a lot of blood loss is expected.
Mechanism of Action
Epogen is the man-made version of human erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is a protein that is naturally produced by your kidneys that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells (RBCs). When you have chronic kidney disease or certain other medical conditions, your body may not produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.
Epoetin alfa, the active substance of Epogen, mimics the function of natural erythropoietin (EPO) protein and causes the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. This helps treat anemia and improves oxygen delivery in the body.
Epogen: Drug Form
Epogen is available as a sterile liquid solution in single-dose and multiple-dose vials. The single-dose vials are available in strengths of 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, and 10,000 units/ml, while the multiple-dose vials are available as 20,000 units/2 ml (10,000 units/ml) and 20,000 units/ml.
Note: Units/ml tells you how much epoetin alfa is present in 1 ml of solution. For example, 2,000 units/ml means 1 ml of Epogen contains 2,000 units of epoetin alfa.
How Epogen Copay Assistance Works
AmeriPharma® Specialty Pharmacy alleviates financial burdens for patients and their families
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Advanced software locates funding sources to match you with top-dollar foundation programs
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One of our copay assistance specialists will assist with the application process
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Automatic updates will be sent to you and your physician on the status of the funding
Dosage and Administration
Epogen is administered either under the skin (subcutaneously) or into a vein (intravenously). The Epogen dosage is adjusted based on the patient’s condition, hemoglobin level, response to treatment, and other clinical factors. Below are general FDA-labeled starting regimens for Epogen based on the condition being treated:
1. Dosage for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
The initial recommended dose of Epogen is 50–100 units/kg, given three times per week, either intravenously or subcutaneously. For patients with CKD on hemodialysis, the intravenous route is recommended.
2. Dosage for Zidovudine-Treated Patients with HIV Infection
The recommended starting dose of Epogen in patients treated with zidovudine is 100 units/kg, which is given as an intravenous or subcutaneous injection three times per week.
3. Dosage for Chemotherapy-Related Anemia
The starting dose of Epogen for adults is 150 units/kg subcutaneously three times per week or 40,000 units once a week by subcutaneous injection until completion of a chemotherapy course.
For pediatric patients (5 to 18 years), a dose of 600 units/kg of Epogen is given intravenously once a week until completion of a chemotherapy course.
4. Dosage for Patients Undergoing Surgery
If a patient is undergoing a surgical procedure, they may receive a dose of 300 units/kg daily for 10 days before surgery, on the day of surgery, and for 4 days afterward.
Alternatively, a dose of 600 units/kg once weekly for 3 weeks before surgery and on the day of surgery may be given, depending on the patient’s condition.
Epogen Side Effects
Common side effects include:
- Joint, muscle, or bone pain
- Fever, chills, cough
- Rash
- Nausea, vomiting
- Soreness of mouth
- Itching
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Blood vessel blockage
- Respiratory infection
- High blood sugar
- Low white blood cells
- Weight decrease
- Low potassium levels in the blood
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Depressed mood
- Difficulty swallowing
- Muscle spasm
- Redness and pain at the Epogen injection site
Serious side effects include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Blood clots (thrombosis)
- Severe hypertension
- Seizures
- Serious allergic reactions
- Severe skin reactions
- Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), a rare condition in which the bone marrow stops producing red blood cells
Insurances Accepted
We accept Medicare, multi-state Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, and most private insurances. Call us to find out more about your coverage.
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