• Defective Drug Side Effects

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A new study indicates that high dosages of a popular drug used for the treatment of anemia in cancer and dialysis patients may raise the risk of heart complications and death.

According to researchers, these findings suggest that epoetin—sold under the brand names Epogen, Aranesp, Procrit, and Eprex—are being routinely overused, risking the health of patients.

Study Findings

The study evaluated patients suffering from anemia and kidney disease. Researchers split the participants into two groups. The first group received as much epoetin necessary to fully treat their anemia—a shortage of red blood cells linked to shortness of breath and fatigue.

The second group was able to remain slightly more anemic and received lower doses of the drug. The study found that the participants in the first group had a 34 percent increased chance of suffering serious hearth problems and death compared to those in the second group.

According to the study''s lead author and associate professor at Harvard Medical School Dr. Ajay Singh, the results of their research should encourage medical professionals to be less aggressive when treating anemia patients.

Since the early 1990s, the amount of epoetin administered to an American anemic patient has almost tripled and the death rate in the United States is higher than in Europe, where patients are given lower doses.

Dr. Singh says that the easiest way to lower injury and death among patient receiving epoetin is to lessen the doses.

Currently, nearly one million patients are prescribed the anemia drug every year.

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