Info re Procrit

Hi all. My doctor finally pushed through approval for Procrit. (My Hgb dropped to 8.4) I received it this a.m. I want to take it today but I haven't had instruction from the nurse. I drew up my peg-intron before this new redi-pen thing and feel comfortable with that. My question is about side effects from the injection. Do I want to do both the peg and the procrit on the same day? This is once a week right? This is also subcutaneous vs IM right ? (I know the directions say so, but the nurses at the doctor's office were actually debating this) Any advice or tips would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

[pigeonca]

I did it right along with the Peg - not in the same spot, of course.  The only difference was that the needle seemed to be a bit larger, but not intolerable.  It's given subcutaneously.

[indyjo]

Thanks for the info. I read that the procrit causes flu like sxs. Is this true? Would it be like a double whammy with peg?

[GrandmaA]

My dr. and N.P. told me not to do them on the same day. I think because if I had a reaction I wouldn't know which one caused it. I had trouble putting air in the vial without getting bubbles. I had to go down to the drs. office and have the nurse explain it to me. One time I didn't get much. Your hbg is very low you probably need it every week. Mine never got down that low.

[jmjm530]

Here's an old thread on some things Procrit (epo):
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/hepatitis/messages/38952.html
The "bubble" situation is dealt with.

Keep in mind these suggestions were for 40,000 unit Procrit vials (green cap) which contain 1ML of liquid. I was told it didn't matter which day I injected. In the beginning I did it on my regular shot night. Later on I changed shot nights. One should also read the package insert and note that you are not to shake the vial before injecting. I injected under the skin (sub-q) just like with the Pegasys.

Also note that the Procrit one-use vials are sterile and therefore you want to clean the  rubber cap down with an alcohol wipe before inserting the syringe needle through the cap to draw out the liquid.

Some -- let's call them advanced users :) -- actually switch needles after they draw out the Procrit and before they inject. This does two things.

First, you can use a large needle to draw out the Procrit (easier to suck it up); and second, you have a sharper needle (going through the rubber dull is a little) for the injection so it goes in better.

When I started switching needles I used barrels with the BD "Luer-Lok" system, so you can easily twist them on and off. Switching needles is definitely optional but something to consider if you find the needle doesn't go into your skin as easily as you would like.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Should probably add to my old post that I ended up using 2ML barrels instead of the 1ML barrel. The bigger barrel allowed me to pull back the plunger further after injecting the air. This sometimes was helpful getting out all of the Procrit and also prevented the plunger from pullng out completely which can happen with the 1ML barrel if you're not careful.

[TravelMom]

We do the same...we use a 2ml barrel...as to not pull the plunger all the way out... twist the large needle off after drawing all liquid and then twist a small 27gauge or 29 gauge needle on to inject with...

[jmjm530]

I could have used the same system last night trying to inject some B12 which is more viscous than Procrit.  Couldn't draw the liquid up at all and ended up throwing the syringe away which happend to be my last one as well as my last vial of B12. LOL. A bigger barrel and/.or larger needle to draw it from def would have helped. What size needle do you use to draw the Procrit up? Time for me to get a couple of new rx's.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Forgot to ask if you use the BD Luer-Lok System? The needle twists off very easily but a corkscrew-like channel makes it very secure. http://tinyurl.com/ypo4o3

[TravelMom]

We do use the bd luer-lok...We draw with the one that comes on the syringe which is a 25g... just looked at the syringes and they are 3ml's, so very easy to draw as much as you need with no worry about pulling the plunger out the back...those 1ml were almost impossible to use.

[indyjo]

Why do they provide the 25 g needles if you can use 27,29? If it is too viscous to pull up with a finer needle, is it also too viscous to inject with a finer needle? The 25 g needles are huge and compared to redi-pen, they are really long. Wasn't too sure how far to actually push the needdle in so I pushed it all the way. Ouch!

[jmjm530]

LOL. I guess they're trying for a compromise. My first NP also pushed the needle all the way in at a 90 degree angle to demonstrate. That said, another NP suggested I just slide it under the skin. I ended up compromising and using a 45 degree angle. In any event, even though the needle is longer than with the Redipen, it's still a lot shorter than the 1.5 inch needles they use for IM injections. I'm sure the drugs got in just fine and are doing their thing.

-- Jim