Procrit concerns

I'll be starting Procrit as soon as the prior auth goes through.....sounds like Monday. I was told that some sx could be an increase in BP, headaches and deep bone pain especially in the lower back, hips and thighs.

I'd like to hear from those of you that have used Procrit and what, if any sx you had from it and things I should be aware of.

Thanks!  Pam

[nygirl7]

Procrit is magic and I would not have made it through my72 weeks with out it.  It literally saved my course of treatment. I have no complaints about it whatsoever and never felt any side effect from it except for finally feeling BETTER!

It takes a while to work and sometimes you have to up the dosage or break it down to 2x a week instead of once a week but once your hemo starts going up you will see what we mean.............Procrit is really like magic!

[jdwithhcv]

I took Procrit for 40 weeks of my 48.  I had a little bone pain from it, but all in all it helped so much with the anemia it was worthwhile.  I could not have completed tx withuot it, even with 40000 units a week we could only get my hgb up to about 9.9.

As nygirl said, it takes a while to work.  It stimulates your bone marrow to produce red blood cells, and they take about 3 weeks to develop.  So be patient, when it starts working you will feel much better.

Good luck!
jd

[justme53]

Thanks for the input. Just hoping I can hang in there til it's approved without any dose reductions...still at 9.2. Good to hear that I'll feel so much better with it...can't wait! Between the anemia, a thyroid going hypo and insomnia, I'm pretty much on autopilot these days.

[frijole]

Procrit is not a drug to be taken lightly, but just like the treatment drugs themselves, the good outweighs the bad.  It is important to have regular CBCs - I had them weekly - while you are taking Procrit.  You don't want your HBG to rise much more than two points.  You can play with it -- that is, at first take it once every 2 weeks or 10 days and see if it helps.  You won't really know for about 2 weeks if it does.  If after those two weeks your HGB has not risen you probably need to do it every week.  But with a 9.2 you will probably go straight to 40,000 units once a week.  

LIke ny and jd said, me too -- I could not have completed treatment without it.
frijole

[ArthursMom]

I was on procrit for 60 weeks and experienced only good side effects from it.  I can't say it made me feel a lot better, just a little better really, but, it kept my hgb around 10 so I could finish treatment.  And I did feel well enough to continue working thru my entire tx.

[nygirl7]

Even though it shouldn't raise more than 2 points...believe it or not when it goes down to 9.2 OUCH painful painful not breathing and fainting and all that.  BUT when it starts to go back up and you get to 10 you will be like WOW I feel SO much BETTER!

I stayed about 10.5 for about 69 weeks...and didn't even feel like I was anemic at all.  It's a whole different world when it starts going UP again.

We had to play with mine big time, first I was doing 40k epo a week and while I didn't go down I didn't go up. so we started 40k 2x a week and then it did go up over two points so we had to back it down. I ended up doing 40k about every five days and it worked out to keep me at 10.5 which was just fine.

Took a little while but I was NOT going to reduce my riba no matter what so it was worth it.

[IMstacie]

Hi Pam:

I've been taking procrit off and on.  When my platelets & neutros dropped in addition to the low hb, doc reduced my meds.  Now back up again, except for the hb, I'm on the procrit again.  My labs look like a volitile security on the DOW.

Anyway, no problems with procrit and it does make you feel like you are still alive.  I only have one complaint, it burns a little when injecting it.

Hang in there. - Stacie

[justme53]

I will hopefully find out tomorrow if it cleared my insurance company and would start this week. I wsn't totally convinced I needed it because my hgb bounces around weekly it seems. But after this weekend of increase dizziness and ringing in my ears, I know it's time.It's scary to be out in public and get those "about to faint" feelings. I will be back to weekly labs again to monitor it.

Thaks again for all your feedback!   Pam

[alagirl]

prob there are some side effects with procrit but they go away over time and you feel so much better having a more normal blood count that I don't even think it's a factor for most people.  Plus, to me, the tx drugs were far and away worse than the procrit could have ever thought of being.  I was on procrit before tx for chronic anemia and I am still on it.  I actually look forward to taking it because I feel so much better afterwards when my blood count goes higher.

[justme53]

Well, the procrit was approved yesterday and I took my first shot last night. They've stated me out on 20, 000 weekly with weekly labs. I had a bit of a problem getting the full 1 ml out of the vial...(Was using a 1 ml tuberculin syringe). May have to rethink that.
It didn't sting too much but it seemed hard to puncture the skin... like the meds gummed up the needle. May just be wishful thinking, but I think I feel a little better today.

[jdwithhcv]

I had trouble getting all the procrit out, I switched to a larger capacity syringe and that helped.  Inject plenty of air into the vial, it will help.

I know what you mean about it being harder to puncture the skin.  I think the membrane on the vial dulls the point a lot.  I know other people have gotten extra points and changed the needle between drawing up the meds and injecting, and they say it helps.  I just toughed it out.  Warm the syringe before you inject and it will sting less.

It takes a while for procrit to help.  Hang in there.  Hope your hgb comes up soon.

jd