Dosing and administration
Use the approved information below to select the appropriate starting dose, schedule and monitoring pathway.
This summary does not replace the approved Prescribing Information or clinical judgement.
This summary does not replace the approved Prescribing Information or clinical judgement. Always refer to the full PI before prescribing.
Select the care setting first
Starting dose
Not on dialysis
100 mgThree times weeklyMaximum dose: 150 mg three times weekly.
On dialysis
100 mgNew patient not on an ESAFor conversion from an ESA, use the PI-based 100, 125 or 150 mg starting-dose table.
Administration schedule
Doses two days apart
Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday. Not four days apart.
For patients on dialysis
Take after completion of the dialysis session.
Take OXEMIA fasting
No food one hour before and two hours after the dose.
Monitor and adjust
Review change in haemoglobin every four weeks.
| Hb level | Increase ≥1.0 g/dL | Increase 0.5 to <1.0 | Change within ±0.5 | Decrease >0.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hb <10 g/dL | Increase dose by 25 mg | Maintain current dose | Increase dose by 25 mg | Increase dose by 25 mg |
| Hb 10 to <12 g/dL | Maintain current dose | Maintain current dose | Maintain current dose | Increase dose by 25 mg |
| Hb ≥12 g/dL | Stop for 14 days; restart one dose lower when Hb <11.5 | Maintain current dose | Reduce dose by 25 mg | Reduce dose by 25 mg |
Do not increase the dose above 150 mg three times weekly. Refer to the PI for the complete algorithm.
Conversion table for patients on ESA
| Prior ESA | Prior dose | Desidustat dose three times weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Epoetin alfa/beta | ≤20,000 IU/week | 100 mg |
| Epoetin alfa/beta | >20,000 to ≤40,000 IU/week | 125 mg |
| Epoetin alfa/beta | >40,000 IU/week | 150 mg |
| Darbepoetin alfa | ≤60 µg/week | 100 mg |
| Darbepoetin alfa | >60 to ≤120 µg/week | 125 mg |
| Darbepoetin alfa | >120 µg/week | 150 mg |
| Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta | ≤120 µg/month | 100 mg |
| Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta | >120 to ≤200 µg/month | 125 mg |
| Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta | >200 µg/month | 150 mg |
Use this table only to select the approved starting dose. Subsequent adjustments are based on Hb change.
Before prescribing
Confirm the indication
Anaemia in adult CKD patients on dialysis or not on dialysis.
Assess iron status
Guideline context recommends iron repletion before initiation.
View guideline contextPractical references
Strength
100 mgOral tabletComposition
Each tablet contains 100 mg desidustat.
Storage
Store below 30°C and protect from moisture.