I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: obsidianom on September 02, 2013, 08:47:15 AM

Title: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: obsidianom on September 02, 2013, 08:47:15 AM
I am interested in what  EPO  doses people are getting and the frequency .  Units or mls(if you give the units per ml) are ok.
Any comments on how often you have to change the dose would be interesting too.
Thank you .
 
Example : my wife is currently on 11,000units per week.  The cliinc changes it every 2 weeks it seems as they test the Hg every 2 weeks. They use a sliding scale.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Rerun on September 02, 2013, 10:47:23 AM
I want my Hg to be 11.  So they try to keep it there for me.  If I get up to 12 they stop it.  If I get to 11 they start up again.  Too much makes my blood thicker and can clot my access.  I know they would like that because then it generates work for my Access Surgeon, but I try to keep it at 11.  So my units vary. 

       :flower;
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Sugarlump on September 02, 2013, 12:20:38 PM
I have 100 mls once a week.
They did try increasing it to three times a wek but it didn't have any effect on my hb.
Having recently had  transfusion it is currently 10.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: UkrainianTracksuit on September 02, 2013, 12:51:46 PM
I receive 20 mcg shots every week.  This prescription has been stable for approximately a year.  (Been on EPO for 6 years)  On this dosage, my hemoglobin has been in the low range of normal so my renal team views it as acceptable.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Joe on September 02, 2013, 01:01:13 PM
I get 8000 units every other week. That keeps my Hb in the 10-11 range. My team checks my values every month with the usual labs.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: obsidianom on September 02, 2013, 01:25:06 PM
I have 100 mls once a week.
They did try increasing it to three times a wek but it didn't have any effect on my hb.
Having recently had  transfusion it is currently 10.
Are you sure about that. It seems way high. usually EPO comes as 20,000 units per ml. If you got 100 ml you would be getting 2million units . I think even Lance Armstrong wouldnt dope that much for the Tour De France.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: amanda100wilson on September 02, 2013, 01:35:44 PM
Sugarlump, Obsidian is right.  That doseage sounds off.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: justme15 on September 02, 2013, 03:22:40 PM
i'm at 200 units of aranesp every 2 weeks. up from 100 units. my hgb last time it was checked was 8.2.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Sugarlump on September 03, 2013, 12:38:51 AM
I stand corrected (only got a C in my Maths GCSE!!!!) and metric divisions confuse me.
I am having 100 micrograms a week !!!! of Aranesp.  ::)
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: noahvale on September 03, 2013, 06:43:47 AM
*
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: billybags on September 04, 2013, 07:36:27 AM
Husbands HB has dropped to 9.3 so they have upped his dose to 120 micrograms a fortnight !!!! Epoetin Beta   . He has been taking 100 for the last 3 months, then his HB dropped making him so tired and breathless.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: noahvale on September 04, 2013, 10:25:38 AM
*
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Jean on September 05, 2013, 01:22:39 AM
10,000 units of Procrit, just switched to every 3 weeks, was every 2 weeks. Terribly expensive tho and I don't know what I am going to do when I hit " the donut hole" next month or so.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Sugarlump on September 05, 2013, 03:17:39 AM
Why is EPO so expensive?
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: kporter85db on September 05, 2013, 06:11:22 AM
It's only available from one company, and they are thieves.

I haven't needed epo for over a year, when I was taking it somehow I managed to build up a supply and now have 6 or 7 full bottles sitting in my fridge.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: jeannea on September 05, 2013, 08:31:33 AM
The manufacturer of epogen loses patent protection this year so generic versions will be available. When I look it up, there are articles about Amgen closing their epo plant completely and only selling what they have in stock. It's an unusual strategy.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Jean on September 05, 2013, 02:29:32 PM
Now THAT is some good news!!!
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: skg on September 05, 2013, 03:59:07 PM
I'm taking aranesp, but have only had it twice. Once, 300 units (mcg?) which brought my hgb up to 12. When it dropped back down to 10 they gave me a dose of 40. I'll see where the hgb is next week, along with whether and what dose they give.

cheers,
skg
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Simon Dog on September 06, 2013, 07:38:31 AM
Any survey/report of EPO dosages should include the delivery mechanism.  EPO delivered subq is about 1/3 more effective than the same dosage delivered iv (including delivery via the dialysis machine)
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: Angiepkd on September 06, 2013, 08:07:38 PM
I get 6000 units, 3 x per week IVP.  Seems like a lot, but last hemoglobin labs were 8.2.  Also get 200 units of venifer each month at my clinic visit.
Title: Re: "EPO SURVEY"
Post by: obsidianom on September 08, 2013, 08:06:42 AM
Interesting how in some clinics its aranesp and some epo.  Could it be cost?  Aranesp lasts longer but which costs more ?