DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION belongs to the class of medication called 'blood-forming agent'  primarily used to treat anaemia (low red blood cell count) in person with long-term serious (chronic) kidney disease and persons receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer (except for bone marrow or blood cells' cancer). DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION helps to reverse anaemia and reduce the need for blood transfusion. Anaemia occurs when the body has a lower amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin. In chronic kidney disease, the kidney gets damaged and doesn't filter the blood, leading to anaemia.

DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION contains a protein 'Darbepoetin alfa' which works by providing signals to the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. DARCEPT 40MG 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 the formation of red blood cells, DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION stimulates the production of this protein in the bone marrow. 

DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION will be injected by the healthcare provider. Do not self-administer. The most common side effects of DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION are shortness of breath,  cough, low blood pressure during dialysis, headache, body aches, diarrhoea, injection site pain and abdominal pain. Most of these sides effects of DARCEPT 40MG 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 or red cell aplasia (a type of anaemia) due to darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa, please inform your doctor before taking DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION to avoid any complications. Also, mention all the other medications you are taking to affect the way DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION works. Inform your doctor immediately, if you feel weak, lightheaded, tired, or short of breath, or if your skin looks pale as it may be signs that the body has stopped responding to DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION. 

DARCEPT 40MG 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 also stimulates the cells of bone marrow to produce more amount of red blood cells). Deficiency of erythropoietin happens when a person is suffering from chronic kidney diseases, which in turn cause low red blood cells count causing anaemia.  This medicine is primarily indicated for treating anaemia (low red blood cell count) in persons with long-term serious (chronic) kidney disease and persons receiving chemotherapy for some types of cancer except for bone marrow or blood cells' cancer. DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION contains a protein 'Darbepoetin alfa' which works by providing signals to the bone marrow to make more red blood cells. 

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Headache
• Body aches
• Diarrhoea
• Injection site pain 
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain) 

DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION can enhance the risk of 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 also shorten survival time in some people with certain types of cancer. Inform your doctor before taking DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, heart attack, blood clot, seizure, or latex allergy. Do not take DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless prescribed by the doctor. DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION may affect a person's ability to drive as it may cause convulsion during initial days of treatment, so a person taking DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION should avoid driving or operating any machine. DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION should not be given to children below 12 years of age, as safety and effectiveness have not been established. Avoid consuming alcohol along with DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION as it could lead to increased dizziness and sleepiness. 

Drug-Drug Interactions: DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION may have interaction with other chemotherapy drugs (thalidomide),  immunosuppressant medication (cyclosporine),  antihypertensive medicines (captopril). 

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid alcohol consumption while taking DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION as it might cause increased dizziness and sleepiness.

Drug-Disease Interactions: DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION may have interactions with disease conditions such as seizures, hemodialysis, hypertension, and thrombotic events
 

• THALIDOMIDE
• CYCLOSPORINE
• CAPTOPRIL

• 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 are losing weight.
• Eat foods that are high in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid can fulfil the deficiencies of happed in kidney disease.
• Include a little 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 fatty. Try to include olive oil, peanut oil, and corn oil into your diet.
• Rest well, get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Using essential oils for massages can help increase circulation.

• 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 DARCEPT 40MG INJECTION or not.

Anaemia: It occurs when the body has a lower amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin than normal haemoglobin (iron-rich the protein responsible for allowing red blood cells to carry more oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body).  In chronic kidney disease, the kidney gets damaged and doesn't filter the blood, leading to anaemia. Symptoms of anaemia in chronic kidney disease include fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath, ashen skin, weakness, body aches, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, sleep problems, and trouble in concentrating.