PROCIT NOT SURE WHAT IT IS?

WHAT IS PROCRIT?

[Kalio1]

Procrit is a drug that combats anemia. HCV treatment causes anemia in some people. Here's some info on Procrit.

http://www.medicinenet.com/epoetin_alfa/article.htm

[GrandOak]

In addition to inhibiting HCV viral reproduction as IFN kills the virus, ribavirin can also reduce the number of red blood cells in your body.  If the number of red blood cells drops too low, the condition is called anemia. The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss, excessive blood cell destruction, or deficient red blood cell production. The anemic condition produced by rebavirin, as well as other forms of chemo-theraputic drugs, is often refered to as chemically induced anemia.

Procrit (Epoetin-Alfa) "helps treat anemia by increasing the number of red blood cells in your body, the same way your body does naturally. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen throughout your body, and more red blood cells may mean more strength to do the things you want to do."

It also requires Iron stores in your body to aid in the production of the new cells.

For more information see:

www.procrit.com

[AMAZED]

So procrit is something that I can inject myself with when I need it?  Or do I have to go to the Dr's to get the injection?  As a flight attendant passing out on the plane in front of passengers doesn't make for a good trip for them or my crewmates?  Eh? Thanks to everyone who repsonded.  

In Him

[bobbyullc]

it is diobolical cocoction  created by the devil to create pain and depression among us mortals. sleep with a cross by your bed and a night light on to ward off the evil procitter monster.

[GrandOak]

BTW, while I am not in the medical profession, this is one area where I've been earning my injectioning man's PHD for 9 of my past 10 months of tx.  In fact, just got done injecting another 50,000 U SQ a few moments ago.

[Hepkitten]

My hubby had to get it and he's been on it for a good 6 months now, and probably will be till he's done with treatment. It works pretty well though, you need to take it on a regular basis to "build up" your red blood cells and get that oxygen to the brain.

[sunspot]

Dance like a Butterfly, sting like a Bee.

[friole]

I like sunspot's definition much better than bobby's.  Sure it does sting, but the benifits are so great it is worth the little pain.  You guys are in fine form this morning.

[NYgirl]

It's a miracle drug that saved my entire course of treatment, without it I would have had to stop.

However it DOES come with its own set of problems that CAN occur so doctors don't like to prescribe it until absolutely necessary and it is VERY expensive so insurance hates to pay for it...so sometimes its a real fight to get it.

But it's worth every second!!!

[GrandOak]

You'll need a prescription, but you can inject it yourself.  It comes in 1 ml vials which you need to draw into a syringe to inject.  Some vials are multi-dose (meaning you can draw more than one ijection from it) others are single dose.

It can have similar side effects as IFN, but I have not experienced them to greatly except when I was injecting 100,000 U at on a single evening.  But I also have not experienced much in the way of sx's from the IFN (Pegasys) throughout most of my 10 months on treatment either, so it would seem that Procrit may affect each individual differntly too.