Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How often are Procrit Shots?

I am wondering how often I will be getting the Procrit shots? I am assuming it goes by the labs. I had the shot 3 days ago, but my Doctor has only been ordering labs every two weeks, so far. I dont have a problem with that right now, because I am feeling pretty good today. I know many people have blood work done weekly....maybe it has to do with my insurance co, not sure.
    I also forgot to ask how much the dosage was, that she gave me. My 6 week HGB had me at 9.9, and I had the Procrit shot at 8 week, before any new blood work had come in~
Best Answer
Avatar universal
My husband hasn't needed Procrit with triple tx with Incivek, but he did need it last year when he was on treatment #2 (daily Infergen injections +1400 mg of Riba).  At that time his hepatologist ordered the Procrit from the specialty pharmacy with a specific dosage, had him come in for weekly blood draws to check his counts and then, modified the dosage with him over the phone based on his weekly hgb.  My recommendation is for you to call your doctor or your NP and ask how this works in their office.
Advocate1955
31 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
179856 tn?1333547362
I've just quite honestly never heard of this before (except first shot training of course). Considering I tried not do the Epo on the same night as the IFN it would have meant going there three times a week! I couldn't have handled that!!!!!!!!!  And all those copays!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
nygirl has a point. I know some people have had to take neupogen at the doctor's but this is the first I've heard of procrit at the doctors.
I wonder how common this is ?
Helpful - 0
179856 tn?1333547362
I really dont understand why you go to the office for any shots, that is highly irregular.  If you have to start on Procrit twice a week, as I did, that would be a major pain.  And if you were taking it at home like the rest of us did, you could leave it out and let warm up and that would take some of the sting out of it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you Dee. My level dropped from 9.9 at 6 weeks, to 9.4 at 8 weeks, so I just had my second (weekly) procrit shot (at my 9 week appt) The Doctor says it takes at least 10 days to help, and since I hae only been on it for 8 days, I really cant be going up and down those stairs, to empty the garbage, and do our families laundry....wish I could make my husband understand this, I am usually a super-active person...thanks for the support~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I asked my Doctor about this, if I should be taking th Procrit on the same day as the Interferon, and she told me it was not a problem. I couldn't find any reserch Studies on this subject, do you happen to know of any, Uncle, or is it just your Doctors decision?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your response, Frijole, and I just wanted to say: I love yr nick-name. It does seem like there is a great variance, in each of our particular body chemistry's, and how we react to these meds- no exact Science here!
Helpful - 0
317787 tn?1473358451
Hi, not sure if my experience will help or not.  I started out with HGB at 14.8 before Incivek Peg Riba, I quickly dropped to 9.9 asked about Procrit and was told I was stable then each week it dropped until stopping at 9.7.
At week 19 it finally started to go back up.  I was never offered rescue drugs despite the fact that I had been told I would be given them if needed.
As you said, I was tired, breathless, could not balance myself and when I called the doctor they told me to lay down.  I am surprised you can do anything.  Hope your levels start to come up soon
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am in week 21 of triple with Vic. Started Procrit 3 weeks ago since my hgb dropped to 8.6. I get labs every week. After 3 weeks on the procrit I am a steady 10.6 taking 40000 units weekly. I also reduced my ribs from 1200 to 1000 with the goal getting back to 1200. There is a big difference in the fatigue factor between 8.6 and 10.6. The bummer is my insurance makes me pay 10% of the cost which is about $300 month. Well worth it though as I can now work 5 days a week. 7 weeks to go and then I am back in the world of the living.
Helpful - 0
1280753 tn?1367757932
when my HGB hit 10.5 my NP put in the request for procrit but my ins co wouldn't approve it until it was under 10. i think that might be the same with all ins co's cuz that's what is on the procrit site. when i hit 10 i was on 1 shot per week (40k units). when my hgb hit around 8.5 i did another shot per week. when it hit 7.5 i did another shot. 3 a week was a problem cuz you aren't supposed to take interferon close to the procrit; i think 48 hours. i was on 3 shots per week for a couple of weeks then my HGB hit 7 and i got a call from the NP to go to the ER for a blood x-fusion. after 3 pints i felt great, up to 11.2. there are risks with procrit, namely heart attack and stroke. i had weekly CBC's too. they reduced my riba to 600 after the x-fusion and shortly after i was up to 800 where i remained for the last 2 months. i also did 1 shot of procrit a week and my hgb stayed around 8.5, which i was ok with....anemia is a major reason for stopping treatment. i just met with my hep doc this week and he really cautioned me relative to anemia when i start trip tx in a few months. in my case, cuz all this has to do with JUST me cuz we are all different, i think the procrit just kept me somewhat stable; it didn't increase my hgb. we're all different.

funny story; when i was dropped off at the entrance to the ER it took me longer to walk in to the desk than it took for the person who took me to park and  find the er. i laughed about that one ... good luck with the anemia.
Helpful - 0
223152 tn?1346978371
I can tell you how often my doctor tells me to take procrit but it is specifically geared to me.  I also had to dose reduce the riba.  The procrit seems to take a long time to help with me - 4 weeks before my hemoglobin rose into the 10s.  My goal this treatment is to stay in the 10s.  I have weekly CBCs.  I have an rx for procrit every 5 days.  Since my hgb has come into the 10s I have upped my riba to the original amount - 1200mg per day.  I am going to continue taking the procrit every 5 days, but if my hgb gets into the 11s I will drop back to once a week.  There is no way I will discontinue it until I am done with tx.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Rules for Posting Questions in Forums and Public Areas

In Forums and Public Areas that are being moderated by healthcare professionals, answers will be posted in the forum and will appear indented beneath the original question, usually within 5 to 10 business days.

MedHelp Public Areas, which includes all areas of the MedHelp Site where users may post content, are for the exchange of information and support ONLY. In consideration of being allowed to use the Public Areas, you agree that the following actions shall constitute a material breach of these Terms and Conditions of Use:
Posting questions or comments by persons under 13 years of age without the consent of their parents.
Posting your full name(s), or any other confidential or personally identifiable information on the MedHelp International website. *
Posting names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers or any other confidential or personally identifiable information of yourself or any person(s) or entities.

@jules2551: I would be violating Terms of Service, to tell you the name of my Doctor, and it is considered "fishing" for imformation, to ask someone "what Doctor are you seeing in S.F."~  I hope this explains things better, no disrespect intended
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
  Well, without revealing too much personal imfo I will say again, my Doctor specializes in treating Hepatitis C, and has a great reputation in the field : )
I feel good, and I'm UND, and that is all we can hope for~
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oh, I just saw this question here~ I dont like to give out personal imfo on posts, like who my Doctor is, or even where I actually live. I use San Francisco, as the general area I'm from, but I dont reveal which town I'm actaully from, on a public website, and I'm sure many of us do that on here. I suppose I should just say "NorCal" or "Anywhere California", etc. Unfortunately, The Internet is a dangerous place.
  Now, to answer the second part of your question, the reason I had mentioned my best-friend inviting me to a museum, was to illustrate that the anemia has me way too tired, to go to a Museum! The only thing I can manage to do, is work my job, in the morning (I'm an Attendant) and take care of my sick husband, and two sons.
   I have a hard time walking very far, because the anemia causes breathlessness, but I can still go out for lunch, etc.  Hopefully the Procrit will resolve this "quality of life" issue
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
   I actually had alot of trouble just finding one Doctor, to treat me. The Gastro Doctor that my PCP referred me to, only did Colonoscopies, etc.

You need a Hepa Dr.I wish you the best
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well, having gone UND at week 4, and now being at week 8 (and a hlf) with only 19 (hlf) weeks to go, I cant fathom changing Doctors, which would mean stopping treatment. I'm on Triple TX, and you cant stop a PI without developing a resistancy, plus I really love her, and the support group she runs, it's the light of my life!!
   I actually had alot of trouble just finding one Doctor, to treat me. The Gastro Doctor that my PCP referred me to, only did Colonoscopies, etc. And My Primary Care Doctor never came up with any other referals. I had several friends who had been cured by this Doctor, and she has a good reputation in the field, etc.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bocep...I am really confused here!  Who in the hell are you seeing in SF?  I would reallly consider a second opinion and what does your best friend have anything to do with procrit?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks, OH, I will have a list of questions for her, on next week. Last time I asked her, she said it was because my HGB had dropped very gradually, which she said was a much safer scenario, then a person who has a rapid drop.  She is a great Doctor, but very busy. The only thing she ever told me was, "when yopur HGB drops below 10.0, we will start you on Procrit, and true to her word, when it went to 9.9, she started me on it. I dont feel tired enough to reduce my Riba, I just try to take it very easy.
    My best-friend called, and invited us out to the Museum this week-end, and I had to explain to her, that going out to eat, would be an easier activity for my ; /
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
Is it possible for you to take the shot at home?
This would probably be safer than driving afterwords.
( I'm impressed that you can drive, I had to stop 3 weeks into tx, due to mindfuzz)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Find a Hepa Dr who knows what they are doing!  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
She's an Internal Medicine Physician, but yes, her specialty is Hep C.  She is very good, but very busy, so she tends to focus on the very sick people first. I will make sure to make a list of questions for her, because I meant to ask her about weekly blood draws, and the Procrit, etc, but after the Nurse gave me the shot (which burned like heck) I started feeling a little woozy, and wanted to get home asap, as I was by myself, and driving. My fear was I would have an allergic reaction from it, but I feel fine, no added sx that I can tell, thankfully
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, that does help, Will, and explains alot. I am healthy, besides the Hep C (stage 2 fibrosis), and have only 19 and a half weeks to go, so my Doctor is taking all this in, when factoring what to do, I'm sure.
Helpful - 0
163305 tn?1333668571
If I were you, I'd ask my doctor why she isn't ordering labs for you weekly.

My hepatologist had me doing weekly labs until I no longer needed rescue meds because my blood levels had stabilized,
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am still looking for a response, on people who have had to use Procrit, and if there are any people who avoided having to use it on a weekly basis~
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are many misnomers about the use of 'Hematopoietic growth factor"(Epo.Procrit) while doing HCV therapy.  First it is "not " approved for use in HCV treatment ,however many doctors have been using it "off label"( approved for other conditions rather than the treatment in question).

There are many people that go through treatment entirely,  with out it's use and some of these patients "do " have mild or moderate  "hemolytic anemia"

For the most part in the majority of relatively healthy people having this type of drug induced temporary anemia is not dangerous .

This is why patients before embarking on HCV treatment should always undergo a physical examination with an EKG (heart function test) to ascertain if there is any underlying heart issues,as hemolytic anemia  CAN adversely affect someone with these issues  as well as underlying infections and /or cancers
Most other people ,HGB can go to quite low levels without there being any danger.

That being said low HGB. will almost always cause the usual symptoms ..shortness of breath ,dizziness,feeling faint ,fatigue and the heart to beat faster.

it is these symptoms that can cause 'quality of life "issues and anxiety to the person rather than it necessarily considered a  dangerous problem ..so the doctor often dose reduces or prescribes Procrit.

Like any powerful drug good doctors will always weigh the benefit vs. the risk before prescribing.

Hope that helps...
Will



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My Doc order it once a week for four weeks and took labs once a week he had me stop at HBG 11.  He also reduce Ribo. It took all four shotst o get to 11. The direction should be on the box. Whenever I am not sure about an order I call or e mail the doc.
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community

Top Hepatitis Answerers
317787 tn?1473358451
DC
683231 tn?1467323017
Auburn, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Answer a few simple questions about your Hep C treatment journey.

Those who qualify may receive up to $100 for their time.
Explore More In Our Hep C Learning Center
image description
Learn about this treatable virus.
image description
Getting tested for this viral infection.
image description
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
image description
4 steps to getting on therapy.
image description
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
image description
How the drugs might affect you.
image description
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
Popular Resources
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.