EPO Shots (Epogen, Procrit, Aranesp)

[donnyecarr1]

Do any of you feel that either of the above shots have been helpful in Chronic Renal Disease?

Does anyone know why Davita CLinics only offer Epogen, and you don't have a choice of the others?

[paris]

Each work a little differently.  They give me Procrit when me numbers are at a certain level and Arenesp when numbers aren't so good. Arenesp is much more expensive and is suppose to be longer lasting.  I read an article last night about how much the target number has changed in the past year. My neph has changed mine from 13 to 11 and I can feel the difference. It has to do with thickening of the blood and clots.   So, if Epogen does the trick for the majority, I guess that is why they use it.  Have you asked them?   

[Jannie]

I used to get EPO shot at my doctors office. I think I've been anemic all my life. As a kid, I took a strong tasting "tonic" and as a teen I fainted several times, then gas a blood test and had a very low hemoglobin count. I took oral iron for years. Managed okay thru 2 successful pregnancies, then  kidney disease reared its ugly head. I got EPO shots weekly for a while, they made me feel "netter", Not quite normal, but better. I started hemodialysis Aug 29 2007, which is how I found this site. I read that in the Tour deFrance bike race, they test participants for EPO use. It seems PO increases iron and the amount of oxygen in your blood. So I felt strangely superior. I can't compete in any athletic events because  I.m a doper! How about that?

[donnyecarr1]

We found out dad is diabetic four years ago, and the past two years he has been diagnozed with kidney disease.  He is 73, and they wanted him to start dialysis over a year ago but he didn't want to.  Now he is doing he PD and I'm home with him helping.  He use to take Procrit and I saw a difference years ago, then Aranesp, and now Davita can only give Epo.  I just read they have a contract with Amgen.  Dad's protein level is low, now he is taking the binders (Foresnol), and he has gotten two EPO shots in three weeks.  He seems so tired and weak all the time.  They want to test for blood in the stool now. 

I've accepted that dad is sick and I just don't see things getting much better.  It's hard for him to walk but of course we must let him have dignity and do as much as he can to feel independent. 
Sometimes I don't know if the dialysis is really working.  He is now doing a manual, and he is on the machine for 9 hours at night.  It's increased from 10000 units to 12000 with a two thousand manual bag.  I'm still learning alot about this deadly disease.    I found this site and it's very interesting.

I hear PD is better than hemo.  Does it ever come a time where PD doesn't work as good and you need Hemo?

[RichardMEL]

I'm on anaresp.... My figures have usually been hovering around 120-124 (12.0-12.4 for you yanks) but it's  gone down a bit to like 115 or something. It's all good. Anaresp is VERY expensive but provided under our medicare system (thank god). Indeed the unit just orders it now I don't have to pay a cent (!) but it seems to do the job. Some other patients in my unit take epo - so it seems to be whatever the docs preference is to perscribe that is the go.

[BigSky]

Our unit uses only Aranesp.

We used to use epo but I have to say Aranesp is far better than epo.  Bloodwork responds faster and only two shots a month.

[Beth36]

My mom takes Aransep and she started last month.  She has said she has a LOT more energy than she did before.  She's not on dialysis yet (her function is at 12% but is falling fast, so she is in the process of transplant) but will likely be on it for a few months before transplant.  I don't know her levels but I think she might have used Procrit before and it didn't do much, so they switched her.  Anyway, she said they told her it takes a while for it to kick in but when it does, she feels better.


Beth

[Romona]

I think I might of had Epogen in the hospital. It is a long story, but a botched procedure caused internal bleeding. My hematocrit was 6. I remember 4 transfusions and them giving me something else. After I was released I had Arensp shots given by 2 neighbors that were nurses. Arensp really helped me recover.

[paddbear0000]

I'm not om dialysis yet, but I used to take Procrit (before I moved and started seeing a doctor who won't treat my anemia!). It worked great for me. My hemoglobin went from 9.1 to 12.4 in no time flat! And i felt great.

Davita probably only uses Epogen because they are like very other medical facility or office. They stick to one brand of a drug because they tend to save money by buying a certain quantity or  by spending a certain amount of money with a drug company. They probably get a majority of their drugs, Epo included, from one major supplier.