Medication Information Leaflet
What is this medication for?
Recormon helps to increase red blood cell production in patients with anemia that is related to kidney problems. It is also used for patients with anemia associated to blood cancers.
How should I take/use this medication?
- Recormon can be administered under the skin or into the veins. Use exactly as how your healthcare professional has told you.
- Do not stop your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
For injections under the skin
| How to prepare the injection | Wash your hands thoroughly. |
Peel back the paper strip and remove the needle and syringe from the packaging. | |
Peel off the protective seal from the needle cap. Do not remove the needle from the cap yet. Hold the syringe and remove the grey rubber protection cap by gently twisting and pulling. | |
Expel air bubbles from the syringe and needle by holding the syringe vertically and gently tapping the syringe barrel with your fingers until the air bubbles rise to the top of the syringe. Then, slowly push the plunger upwards to expel the air bubbles. | |
Wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab to disinfect the area. Leave it to dry for around 10 seconds. Do not discard the alcohol swab as it can be used later. Possible sites of injection include the stomach, thigh, upper arms or buttocks. Do not inject into the skin that is irritated, bruised, scarred, moles or has stretch marks. You should rotate the injection site within the same area to prevent your body from forming lipodystrophy (a small dent or lump in the skin that forms when a person repeatedly injects into the same spot). | |
| How to inject the medication | Remove the plastic needle cap. Use your thumb and index finger to create a skin fold at the site of injection. |
Insert the needle into the skin fold at a right angle. Once the needle is inserted, release the skin fold and press down the plunger slowly until all the solution has been injected. | |
When the injection is completed, remove the needle and place the alcohol swab over injection site. Apply light pressure on the site for a few seconds. Do not rub or massage the injection site. | |
| How to discard | Replace the needle cap and discard the entire syringe with the used needle in a puncture proof container, such as a plastic bottle with cap or cover. |
What should I do if I forget to take/use this medication?
- If you forget to inject a dose, do it as soon as you remember. Then inject your next dose at the usual time. Do not inject two doses to make up for the missed dose.
What precautions should I take?
Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
- You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
- You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies
What are some common side-effects of this medication?
The side effects for Recormon are usually mild and generally well tolerated. They include the following:
- Redness, swelling over injection site
- Flu-like symptoms
- Fever, chills and headaches
These symptoms may happen but should get better over time. Check with your doctor if any of these symptoms are serious or do not go away.
What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
- Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
- Difficulty in breathing
- Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
Symptoms of extremely high blood pressure include one or more of the following:
- Stabbing, migraine-like headache
- Speech disturbances
- Weakness in one side of the body
Symptoms of heart problem include one or more of the following:
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Numbness of extremities
- Cold sweat
- Sudden dizziness
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
What food or medication should I avoid when I take this medication?
NA
How should I store this medication?
Store between 2-8°C. Refrigerate, but do not freeze. It can be stored at room temperature (less than 25 degree Celsius) for no longer than 3 days. Protect from light. Keep this medication away from children.
How should I throw away this medication safely?
Replace the needle cap and discard the entire syringe with the used needle in a puncture proof container, such as a metal tin or thick plastic bottle with cap or cover (for example, detergent bottles). You can also buy a container specially designed to throw sharp items, known as a sharps box, at pharmacies. This is to prevent any injuries due to needles.
Pack the container into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.
Disclaimers
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last reviewed on Apr 2023
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