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Reblozyl vs. Retacrit

 

Are Reblozyl and Retacrit the Same Thing?

Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt) and Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) Injection are used to treat anemia from different causes.

Reblozyl is used to treat anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia who require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.

Retacrit is used to treat anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients on dialysis and not on dialysis; zidovudine in patients with HIV-infection; the effects of concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and upon initiation, there is a minimum of two additional months of planned chemotherapy; and reduction of allogeneic RBC transfusions in patients undergoing elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery.

Reblozyl and Retacrit belong to different drug classes. Reblozyl is an erythroid maturation agent and Retacrit is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA).

Side effects of Reblozyl and Retacrit that are similar include headache, bone pain, joint pain, cough, dizziness, nausea, high blood pressure (hypertension), and upper respiratory tract infection.

Side effects of Reblozyl that are different from Retacrit include fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, influenza, and high uric acid levels in the blood.

Side effects of Retacrit that are different from Reblozyl include muscle spasm or pain, fever, medical device malfunction, blockage of a blood vessel, rash, injection site irritation or pain, vomiting, swelling and sores inside the mouth, weight loss, low white blood cell count (leukopenia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), insomnia, depression, difficulty swallowing, low blood potassium, blood clots and deep vein thrombosis DVTs), itching, and chills.

Both Reblozyl and Retacrit may interact with other medicines.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Reblozyl?

Side effects of Reblozyl include:

  • headache,
  • bone pain,
  • joint pain,
  • fatigue,
  • cough,
  • abdominal pain,
  • diarrhea,
  • dizziness,
  • nausea,
  • influenza,
  • high blood pressure (hypertension),
  • high uric acid levels in the blood,
  • viral upper respiratory tract infection, and
  • cough

What Are Possible Side Effects of Retacrit?

Common side effects of Retacrit include:

  • high blood pressure (hypertension),
  • joint pain,
  • muscle spasm or pain,
  • fever,
  • dizziness,
  • medical device malfunction, blockage of a blood vessel,
  • upper respiratory tract infection,
  • cough,
  • rash,
  • injection site irritation or pain,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • swelling and sores inside the mouth,
  • weight loss,
  • low white blood cell count (leukopenia),
  • bone pain,
  • high blood sugar (hyperglycemia),
  • insomnia,
  • headache,
  • depression,
  • difficulty swallowing,
  • low blood potassium,
  • blood clots and deep vein thrombosis DVTs),
  • itching, and
  • chills

What Is Reblozyl?

Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt) is an erythroid maturation agent indicated for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia who require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.

What Is Retacrit?

Retacrit (epoetin alfa-epbx) Injection is an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) indicated for treatment of anemia due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients on dialysis and not on dialysis; zidovudine in patients with HIV-infection; the effects of concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and upon initiation, there is a minimum of two additional months of planned chemotherapy; and reduction of allogeneic RBC transfusions in patients undergoing elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery.

 

What Drugs Interact With Reblozyl?

Reblozyl may interact with other medicines.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

What Drugs Interact With Retacrit?

Retacrit may interact with other drugs.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

 

How Should Reblozyl Be Taken?

The recommended starting dose of Reblozyl is 1 mg/kg once every 3 weeks by subcutaneous injection.

How Should Retacrit Be Taken?

The initial dose of Retacrit for patients with CKD is 50 to 100 units/kg 3 times weekly (adults) and 50 units/kg 3 times weekly (pediatric patients). The dose of Retacrit for patients on zidovudine due to HIV-infection is 100 units/kg 3 times weekly. The dose of Retacrit for patients with cancer on chemotherapy is 40,000 units weekly or 150 units/kg 3 times weekly (adults); 600 units/kg intravenously weekly (pediatric patients over 5 years). The dose of Retacrit for surgery patients is 300 units/kg per day daily for 15 days or 600 units/kg weekly.