Is Procrit Dangerous?
According to the FDA, Procrit can be especially dangerous to patients who are being treated with higher than recommended doses. The black box Procrit warning specifically cites an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as blood clots, heart attack, and stroke in certain kidney patients. In some cases, these events result in death. The new warning also highlights the risk of rapid tumor growth in patients with cancer of the head or neck. In light of these and other dangers, the FDA said the benefits of Procrit may not outweigh the risks. Recently, agency officials prepared a report in which it said no evidence suggests that Procrit actually improves the quality of life or extends the lifespan of patients being treated with the drug. In fact, when administered in high doses, the drug can shorten a patient’s life span. Just two months after the FDA announced the Procrit warning, the New York Times published an article stating that dialysis patients in the U.S. receive twice as much
