by Patrick Arnold - EPO is sold in recombinant
form (rhEPO) for injection. It usually is packaged
as a lyophilized (freeze dried) powder that is reconstituted
with sterile water before injection. One popular
form is called Epogen (r), and it is made for subcutaneous
usage. A starting dosage is typically 20 i.u. per
kilogram bodyweight, 3 times/week. After two to
four weeks, a maintenance dose of 20 i.u. /kg BW
can be taken once a week.
EPO use can be very dangerous if the user allows
their hematocrit to creep too high. The ideal hematocrit
for athletic performance is thought to be 55 (expressed
in percent). Levels above this can result in "sludging"
of the blood, which reduces microcirculation. This
is counterproductive to oxygen transport. Additionally,
at high hematocrit levels one is at greater risk
for deadly vascular events such as stroke, especially
if he/she becomes dehydrated during competition
(which increases hematocrit even further).
In addition to increasing aerobic efficiency
through greater oxygen transport in the blood, there
is some evidence suggesting EPO may also have anabolic
effects. EPO has been shown in rat studies to substantially
increase weight gain and injury repair after surgery.
Furthermore, EPO receptors are present on myoblasts
(immature muscle cell progenitors) and may have
a potential in muscle development and repair.
Download Epogen Package Insert
