finally got procrit, any info out there?

Hey everyone it has been awhile since I've posted and I can see a lot of newbies, (welcome) as many of you know my blood counts have been very low and I have been asking doc about procrit. Well he has finally decided that I need it. It should be coming in the mail with my next months supply of tx.My questions out there to all of you on it are
1) Have any of you had to cut down on riba for awhile? (I was told to go to 800mg of copegus for 1 month)
2) How long did it take to kick in? (4-6 weeks?)
3) Is anyone experiencing any new sides?
4) When do you do your procrit shot? (was told to try it two days before my pegasys)
Counts WBC 1.8,RBC 2.9, Hemo9.7 neut 50.5 (great)platelets, 115
all my liver counts are normal.

[Galen]

I started on Procrit about 8 weeks into tx, along with Neupogen.  I was at the Hematologist's office for the Neupogen and didn't even know yet how anemic I had become - my count took a nose-dive from the week before.  I never had to lower my riba for the anemia, but had to for about a week for the neutropenia.  It took about 1 1/2 weeks to notice a difference.  I was advised to do the Pricrit and Neupogen either the night of my lab work or the next day.  As I always did labs on Mondays, I did them on Tuesday (did interferon on Saturday night)  I finished tx 6 weeks ago and was undetectable from week 12 on.  I go for a 6-week, post tx, PCR on Monday.

[doll face]

I was just writing you a note on Dive writes thread.
My doctor only ordered procit, should I take it a day or two before my peg or after or will it not make a difference?I too have cleared <600 at 12 weeks hope it stays that way. Congrats to you and best wishes on Monday. By the way what is the address for you web site I can't find it (good ol brain fog) Thanks Kim

[Galen]

I don't think it matters when you take it, just not the within a days of the peg.  
The hepsong site is not mine, though.  It was started by Tom Clark at the request of a bunch of us here to save all of Eyedea's and his songs.  You will find it at
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hepsongs/

[meandhepc]

Hi Galen,

I get the results on my 6 week post PCR next week as well,
How ya feeling lately?  I feel better each week but fatigue still hangin with me. Got my fingers crossed for both of us on our results...

[doll face]

Thanks again, I knew it was one of oldies (figure of speech)lol.
Just got back from Michigan (doctor) long drive by yourself. so brain fog setting in bad. Do my shot on Sunday night so I won't be able to start the procrit till next week

[doll face]

What exactly is the neupogen for? and procrit is it only to keep blood levels up so I can finish tx? do you have to stay on it for the duration? (I'm on week 20 of 72)

[raheem]

You rang? I'm taking Procrit and not Neupogen at this time. Neupogen jacks up your WBC so you're not prone to infections. Procrit increases your RBC, HCT and HGB levels so you're not suffering from anemia. My HCT went from 27 up to 31 in 2 weeks from the Procrit. I take the Procrit Wednesdays and I take the interferon Saturdays.

[MajNeni]

Both Neupogen and Procrit are analogous to substances our bodies make naturally; some of us just need help during tx.

Neupogen/G-CSF/Filgrastim is used to stimulate the bone marrow to make more white blood cells/neutrophils to fight off infections.  It kicks in after 1-2 weeks.  It should be taken two days after peg to 2 days before the next peg.  
Bone marrow is in your larger bones and is the site where much of your blood is made.  Interferon messes with bone marrow to different extent in us, so only some people get Neutropenia, i.e. low WBC/ANC.  This means you have a harder time stopping infections.  If you get low on the WBC/ANC, wash your hands a lot and stay away from sick people; clean cuts, etc. extra carefully; get prompt attention to any potential infection.

Procrit/Epoetin alfa is used to help get more red cells going.  If your RBC, Hemoglobin (HBG) and Hematocrit (HCT) are low during tx, it is usually due to the ribavirin.  Riba kills off red blood cells (hemolyses them) long before their time.  The result is your body cannot distribute oxygen well to all your muscles, brain, etc.  You feel fatigue and cold; perhaps have dizzyness,  lethargy, no brain power, etc.  Procrit should kick in after about 3 weeks.  

Platelets help stop bleeding, they help with blood clotting.  If your platelets are low, way low, say 50-ish or so, you might be given Neupena for similar reasons to the above.

I'm on Procrit and Neupogen; I get some bone pain in the 36 hours after shots (presumably in the marrow, various locations in my body).  I am allowed to take Alleve/Naproxen Sodium; usually only need it for a couple of doses.  I don't know which one causes the bone pains.

Other things that might help limit anemia are some supplemental folic acid and vitamin B-12 (I take it in a super-B complex).  DO NOT TAKE IRON supplements without your doc's ok; sometimes long term Procrit depletes your available iron, and the assembly line shuts down.  Doc should monitor for this.

Maj Neni

[oldhippiechick67]

I started Neupogen and procrit 2 weeks ago.  my WBCs were 1.9 and ANC were 0.6   My RBCs 2.75, Hgb 9.4, Hct 27.8  I read the Procrit can make you feverish, I had the chills the first day, then by the 3rd, 4th day was feeling better and able to tackle some housework and shopping.  The dizziness was bad too lately.  I dont think the Neupogen has many sides but I havent read the package insert yet.  The Procrit can make your bones ache too cuz it is stimulating blood cell production.  
I take the Pegasys shot on Sat and Neupogen and Procrit on Tues.
They say it takes 3 weeks about to kick in but I felt better sooner than that.  Okay, Im done yakking.  OHC

[MajNeni]

I think viruses will run scared now, you're full of interferon...

[doll face]

Thanks you both cleared that up for me. How low is low on WBC? MY neuts are fine so no problem fighting bacterial infections but with WBC being only 1.8 aren't I high risk for viral infections? I have been asking the doc for procrit for weeks now can't wait for it to kick  in, sooooooo tired all the time

[jonihs]

i just read" combo-survivor guide from a to z"I think there is alot of info in there, but also pretty outdated stuff. Has anyone else read it and what do you think?    Joni

[DonL]

spooky. This week, my PA suggested I might need Procrit at some point and here is a thread. Anyway, my WBC is 3.5 (OK according to PA) but the hemoglobin has gone from 16.4 at start to 11.3 at wk. 4 and hemacrit from 47 to 33, same time period. According to my PA, the chief side effect of Procrit is "people feel better." Glad to see some more info. Thanks once again.

[hph5477]

You asked how low is low on WBC...  My PA said she doesn't get concerned until it gets down to 1.0.  I dropped from 7.1 to 3.8 in the first week, then down to 3.2 in the second week.  Will do labwork again this week (at 4 wks) and see how I'm doing.  I'm hoping that the biggest drops happen in the first 2 weeks of tx.

Good luck with your treatment.

[OkieJim]

Got my labs back on Friday. I did respond to the Neupogen. Of course the experiment worked also. My Gastro RX 1/2 cc twice a week for two weeks. During that time my neutrophils came back up from 0.68 to 72.8. I had little bone pain and mild fever during that time. Of course after 1 week they have dropped back down to 0.85 now. I also noticed my HCT and HBG both came up slightly. Not a sugnificant amount. I have not done anymore Neupogen now for about three weeks. We will see what happens next. I'm trying to stay away from extra meds. Also my BX came back and have DX with Barrett's esohagus(sp). Doing Prilosec for the rest of my life now. <b>NOT A SX OF TX</B>. Just a stuborn man not paying attention to heartburn!!!

[simpleman]

I didn't know low RBC made you cold. Explains a lot. My fingers, toes, and nose are always cold. Thanks for the info.

[MajNeni]

Yup.  Without the oxygen getting out to the fingers, etc, you cant oxidize your nutrients and generate energy there.