So rich, wonder what it would bring on the street corners? LOL Are you still taking it?
I did 68 weeks of Epogen at home.
Sometimes once a week - sometimes twice. I finally worked it out that every five days at least kept me in the 10 range. Without that I dropped into the 9s right away. But twice a week got me up too high.
99.99% of doctors have us take it at home - like we do with the treatment meds.
I'm glad - I don't want to have to go to doctors if I don't have to. Give them a copay...spend money on gas...after a while it gets EXPENSIVE.
I loved having my nice big fat box of $6,000 epo in the fridge...I felt RICH :)
I get my shots from the hemo office. I get the peg version of procrit--Aranesp, so it lasts about 2-3 weeks. Same with Neupogen, I get Neulasta which lasts 2-3 weeks. So I don't have to go so often. Good news is now I don't need either. I am low but above the limit. Sometimes if I am a point low, I hide out and get another CBC quickly hoping they will rise (esp. the ANC)
Some here have had dr's who say that your Hgb should drop some during tx as it shows the Riba is working.
I did shot 7 on friday, and got my first Procrit shot in Hemotologist office today.
Check this thread., about 3 below yours.
"Concerns of first labs on tx"
Many do need them, but not everyone. I am on week 17 and have not needed anything yet. You might not end up needing them.
My hemoglobin dropped early and rapidly - started Procrit last week, along with Peg-Intron shot #6. I give it to myself at home - figured if I can inject insulin and interferon, what's one more shot? Do not feel any effects yet - I'm still totally wiped out.
I'm on week 7, too, and Dr. has already given me 2 shots of neupogen and a script for injections of 480 (whatever) every 2 weeks from now on.
From what I've read on the forum an awful lot of folks have to go on these
'rescue' drugs.
There are a couple of threads about the same topic a few posts down. Can't remember the titles.
I've done 9 shots of peg and 4 of procrit. My hgb had dropped on the first lab @ 2 weeks, but it wasn't till the 4 week that it was low enough for the procrit. When my hgb went up to 11.3 I asked if I should stop procrit, but the nurse said the procrit gets it up but it will drop again if I stop procrit. I get labs every two weeks.
Good luck traveler, I can't really tell when I started feeling better, but it seemed like about the time I took my second shot of procrit.
I was on Procrit all but my first 4 weeks of treatment. I gave myself the shot...what's one more? Rescue drugs are pricey, and sometimes there is a threshold you have to reach before the insurance companies will approve the prescription. Good luck, when the anemia kicks in, it is pretty rough and it often takes a couple of weeks for the Procrit to start working. The Neupogen works right away I understand.
It might be noted that Neupogen should not be given until at least 24 hours after the Peg shot. I don't believe there is a criteria on the Procrit so you could also do that at the same time as Neupogen but generally not on the same night as Peg. It's more important not to do the Neupogen for 24 hours after Peg.
miss
I did shot 7 on friday. But have been feeling bad a couple of weeks now.
Thanks for the info. I take shot #2 tonite. I had blood drawn this morning and should get results tomorrow. Hope I don't need rescue drugs yet. Notice that most make it into week 10 or more before needing them, but have read that some need them very early. Want to make sure I'm ready if I need them. Now that I started I don't want to stop.
I got my shot at a Hemotologists office today. It was my first shot of Procrit. My hemo dropped quickley to 10.2, and I am diabetic, The hemo says that one effects the other and makes the sx worse with both.