The most widely used erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in the United States
| Drug | Half-life (hours) | Dosage in adults | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intravenous | Subcutaneous | ||
| First-generation | |||
| Epoetin alfa36 | 4–13 | 5–24 | Initial 50–100 U/kg 3 times weekly intravenously or subcutaneously Maintenance individualized |
| Second-generation | |||
| Darbepoetin alfa37 | 21 | 35–139 | Initial 0.45 μg/kg weekly, adjusted as needed to maintain hemoglobin 11–13 g/dL Do not adjust dose more frequently than once a month unless clinically indicated |
| Third-generation | |||
| Methoxypolyethylene glycol–epoetin beta38 | 119 | 124 | Initial 0.6 μg/kg every 2 weeks intravenously or subcutaneously |
| Epoetin zeta39 | Similar to first-generation epoetin alfa | ||