Dosing
EPO is only given 1-2 times a week. The drug can only be given by an injection- preferably subcutaneously. Most patients receive their Epogen injection from a nurse/physician but in some rare cases, the individual can be taught to inject him/her self. It should never be injected intravenously or taken orally. The drug comes as a liquid and should be handled with care.
EPO is a very fragile molecule and can be easily destroyed if it is not stored properly. It should never be exposed to excess heat or frozen. It should always be kept in the refrigerator and away from sunlight. EPO is available in single use vials and in multi use vials. Once the multi use vial has been opened up, the EPO will last for about 3 weeks. The dose of EPO is generally about 100 units/kg.
Once the EPO is administered, one can monitor the hematocrit over the next several weeks to see if it is working. Most doctors also recommend supplementing the body with iron tablets to compliment Epogen. A single vial of Epogen containing 1-2,000 units can cost anywhere from $100-$200, depending on where you buy and from whom you buy it from. And the purity of the product is never guaranteed if it is bought over the internet.
For more information on EPO, visit www.steroidsrx.com
Showing posts with label erythropoietin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label erythropoietin. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Epogen (erythropoietin EPO)
Physiology
EPO is a glycoprotein (protein-sugar conjugate) that has been shown to regulate synthesis of red blood cells in the bone marrow. When released from the kidneys it directs it activity in the bone marrow and helps stimulate the differentiation of stem cells into red blood cells. It is a normal body chemical which control hemoglobin synthesis and red blood cell concentration. Human EPO is a medium sized molecule (30,400-dalton) and contains 165 amino acids which are coupled to a few carbohydrate and sialic acid residues. There are several sub classes of EPO in the body- they only differ in the carbohydrate content.
At birth, EPO is manufactured in the liver but shortly afterwards the kidneys become the primary source of EPO. The regulation of EPO is based on concentration of oxygen in the blood crossing the kidneys. When the kidneys sense a low oxygen concentration in blood, EPO synthesis is increased. Human Epogen was isolated from urine nearly 40 years ago. Since then we have developed recombinant DNA methods to produce EPO in the laboratory. The drug is made by Amgen and widely available globally
For more information on EPO, visit www.steroidsrx.com
EPO is a glycoprotein (protein-sugar conjugate) that has been shown to regulate synthesis of red blood cells in the bone marrow. When released from the kidneys it directs it activity in the bone marrow and helps stimulate the differentiation of stem cells into red blood cells. It is a normal body chemical which control hemoglobin synthesis and red blood cell concentration. Human EPO is a medium sized molecule (30,400-dalton) and contains 165 amino acids which are coupled to a few carbohydrate and sialic acid residues. There are several sub classes of EPO in the body- they only differ in the carbohydrate content.
At birth, EPO is manufactured in the liver but shortly afterwards the kidneys become the primary source of EPO. The regulation of EPO is based on concentration of oxygen in the blood crossing the kidneys. When the kidneys sense a low oxygen concentration in blood, EPO synthesis is increased. Human Epogen was isolated from urine nearly 40 years ago. Since then we have developed recombinant DNA methods to produce EPO in the laboratory. The drug is made by Amgen and widely available globally
For more information on EPO, visit www.steroidsrx.com
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