Procrit

[zboss]

I just saw a TV advertisement for Procrit which is a drug that is used to treat wide variety of ailments caused by treatment for cancer and HIV as well as anemia. Apparently it increases the number of active red blood cells.

My question is obvious... in a healthy individual would this drug act as a performance enhancer and result in the body in-gassing/off-gasing more efficiently?

 

[DocVikingo]

In a healthy individual with a normal red blood cell count & hemoglobin level there no reason to expect that a medication like PROCRIT would meaningfully increase the transport of oxygen or waste gases.

Like all drugs, this one has some side effects. Although not common, some are quite troubling.

In any event, a competent & ethical physician would not prescribe this drug for an individual not medically requiring it.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Dr Deco]

Dear zboss:

Red Cells and Gas Transport :scuba:

From a purely academic point of view, this medication would not change gas transport. The red cells in your body bind oxygen (with hemoglobin) in a chemical bond. Oxygen is carried (as oxyhemoglobin) in an amount that far exceeds what would occur on the basis of solubility (i.e., Henry's Law) alone. Nitrogen and helium dissolve in the serum, or liquid, portion of the blood.

The chemical combination does not occur between hemoglobin and nitrogen (or helium) and thus the off gassing and on gassing characteristics would not change.

Altitude Training

Since PROCRIT is a bad idea for the reasons given by DocVikingo, let us suppose, for purposes of argument, that someone was to live at high altitude (e.g., Leadville, Colorado) for a month and then go scuba diving. Would the increased number of red cells in the blood help? Nope.

For purposes of oxygen transport, there is help, but oxygen is never in short supply to a diver.

Dr Deco :doctor:

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Procrit is a rather expensive drug. Cancer patients often suffer from anemia as a side effect of chemotherapy. Procrit can help with that, but the cost can be profound.

Our family bought thousands of dollars of the stuff when my brother was sick, and only wished it could have been passed to another patient in need after he passed. Damn expensive drug.

 

[zboss]

Procrit is a rather expensive drug. Cancer patients often suffer from anemia as a side effect of chemotherapy. Procrit can help with that, but the cost can be profound.

Our family bought thousands of dollars of the stuff when my brother was sick, and only wished it could have been passed to another patient in need after he passed. Damn expensive drug.

Out of curiosity, has any development been done by either the government or private institutes to create a drug to assist in the transport of oxygen into the blood stream from the lungs or the removal of nitrogen from the blood?

BTW - I was never actually suggest that anyone go on any drug they don't need, I was just curious from a scientific standpoint.

 

[garyfotodiver]

Then why ask about it in a SCUBA forum?

My mother needs Procrit, and occasionally it is difficult to obtain.

Your thought is akin to those atheletes who undergo autotransfusions. They have blood removed and stored, them receive the blood shortly before an activity. This increases their hemoglobin level to enhance performance.

That humans CAN do something does not mean that we SHOULD do it.

 

[zboss]

I didn't mean to offend anyone here on the board with my questions.

Honestly - the reason I posted this on the board was out of scientific curiosity concerning scuba diving and the physiology of scuba diving as relates to drugs and chemicals. I was sitting in front of the TV one day and a procrit commercial came on, which got me thinking... there are a lot of people on SB that are much more intelligent then myself and have a lot a scientific experience with the physiology of diving.

I have a lot of clients in the BioTechnology and Pharmicology fields but generally speaking they cannot discuss their science (and it's inapproprite from a professional viewpoint to ask). I know that a lot of research never makes it into the public eye.

I begain to think that certainly there must be ongoing research into drugs to regulate oxygen and/or nitrogen content in the bloodstream in relation to diving. This may be something that could be applied in the field during a DCS event much like drugs that are used during a stroke; or to assist commercial divers in decompression.

Again - I apologize if I have offended anyone.