Retacrit is used to treat symptomatic anaemia caused by kidney disease:
- in children undergoing hemodialysis.
- in adults undergoing peritoneal hemodialysis.
- in adults with severe anemia who are not undergoing dialysis.

If you have kidney disease, you may have too few red blood cells if your kidneys do not produce enough erythropoietin (needed to produce red blood cells). Retacrit is prescribed to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

- Retacrit is used to treat anaemia in adults receiving chemotherapy for solid tumours,
malignant lymphomas or multiple myeloma (cancer of the bone marrow) which may require a blood transfusion. Retacrit may reduce the need for a blood transfusion in these patients.

- Retacrit is used in adults with moderate anaemia who are going to have their blood taken before surgery so that it can be transfused back into them during or after the operation.
Because Retacrit stimulates the production of red blood cells, doctors can collect more blood from these people.

- Retacrit is used in adults with moderate anaemia who are about to undergo major orthopaedic surgery.
(e.g. hip or knee replacement surgery) to reduce the potential need for blood transfusions.

- Retacrit is used to treat anaemia in adults with a bone marrow disorder that causes severe disruption of blood cell formation (myelodysplastic syndromes).
Retacrit can reduce the need for blood transfusions.

Do not use Retacrit:
- If you are allergic to epoetin zeta or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Retacrit.

Pregnancy, lactation and fertility:
It is important to tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you. You may still be able to use Retacrit, but talk to your doctor first.
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
- If you are breastfeeding.
No data are available on the effects of epoetin zeta on fertility.

Driving and using machines:
Retacrit has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure.

Your doctor has performed blood tests and decided that you need Retacrit.
Retacrit can be given by injection:
- Either into a vein or into a tube that goes into a vein (intravenously)
- Either under the skin (subcutaneously).

Your doctor will decide how Retacrit will be injected. The injections will usually be given to you by a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. Some people, depending on why they need treatment with Retacrit, may later be taught how to inject the medicine themselves under the skin: see Instructions on self-injecting Retacrit.

If you have any further questions on this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

- The active substance is epoetin zeta (human erythropoietin produced by recombinant DNA technology in Chinese hamster ovary (OHC) cell lines).
Retacrit 1000 IU/0.3 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.3 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 1000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 3333 IU/ml.

Retacrit 2000 IU/0.6 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.6 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 2000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 3333 IU/ml.

Retacrit 3000 IU/0.9 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.9 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 3000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 3333 IU/ml.

Retacrit 4000 IU/0.4 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.4 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 4000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 10000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 5000 IU/0.5 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.5 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 5000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 10000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 6000 IU/0.6 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.6 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 6000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 10000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 8000 IU/0.8 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.8 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 8000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 10000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 10000 IU/1 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 1 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 10,000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 10,000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 20000 IU/0.5 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.5 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 20,000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 40,000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 30000 IU/0.75 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 0.75 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 30,000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 40,000 IU/ml.

Retacrit 40000 IU/1 ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe
1 pre-filled syringe with 1 ml solution for injection contains epoetin zeta (recombinant human erythropoietin) 40,000 international units (IU). The solution contains epoetin zeta 40,000 IU/ml.

- The other ingredients are: disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, calcium chloride dihydrate, polysorbate 20, glycine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, water for injections, sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment), hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment).

Warning:
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.

1 pre-filled syringe