What is EPO (erythropoietin)?
EPO is a kidney hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells. Recombinant epoetins are used to treat anaemia; in sport, EPO is misused to raise oxygen-carrying capacity.
How well studied is EPO (erythropoietin)?
Very well studied and approved for decades, including for anaemia due to chronic kidney failure, chemotherapy, before certain surgeries and in myelodysplastic syndromes. Efficacy is established in large trials.
What side effects and risks does EPO (erythropoietin) have?
Common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea, fever and headache. Serious risks include high blood pressure, thrombosis, heart attack and stroke due to “thickened” blood, and the rare, severe pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) caused by antibodies; in athletes without anaemia the thrombosis risk is especially high. Contraindicated among others in uncontrolled hypertension.
Is EPO (erythropoietin) approved in Germany?
In short: yes. Approved in the EU (several products and biosimilars), prescription-only; use belongs under medical supervision with blood count monitoring. WADA: S2.1 (erythropoiesis-stimulating agents), prohibited at all times. Falls under the AntiDopG; misuse without medical supervision is life-threatening, and black-market products are often counterfeit or improperly stored.
Sources
Note: We deliberately do not list any doses here. For approved medicines, your doctor sets the dose; for unapproved substances there is no reliable information.