Medications for Anemia

This section groups several medications that are used in the treatment of anemia.  There are a variety of causes of anemia. Iron formulations generally treat conditions where blood loss or poor levels of dietary intake of iron are the cause of anemia.  Poor absorption of B12 can result in anemia due to impaired erythropoiesis due to a lack of B12, which plays an important role in production of red blood cells.  Similarly poor folic acid intake or absorption can result in anemia due to poor production.  Erythropoietin and darbepoetin are used to stimulate production of red blood cells in chronic illnesses such as end stage renal disease, HIV, bone marrow disorders, and other conditions where red blood cell production is reduced.

Class Drugs

• Iron

• B12 (cyanocobalamin)

• Folic Acid

• Epoetin Alfa (erythropoietin)

• Darbepoetin

Class Mechanism of Action

• See individual drugs

Class Applications

• See individual drugs

Class Adverse Effects

• See individual drugs

Drug Table

Drug Name	Application	Comments	Image
Iron; "Ferrous sulfate - oral formulation"; Iron Dextran & Iron sucrose - parenteral formulations	Iron deficiency anemia	Mechanism of Action; Replaces iron stores for production of hemoglobin; Adverse Effects; Constipation, abdominal pain; Deferoxamine is treatment in overdose situations; Anaphylactoid reactions can occur with IV administration	"Steel Beam"
B12 Cyanocobalamin	Pernicious Anemia; Low dietary B12; Bariatric surgery	Mechanism of Action; Replaces B12 stores for use in erythropoiesis	"B12"
Folic Acid	Megaloblastic Anemia; Prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy; Used in combination with drugs that inhibit dihydrofolate reductase; (Methotrexate, trimethoprim, pyrimethamine)	Mechanism of Action; Replenishes folic acid levels in deficiency states	"Foley Catheter"
Epoetin Alfa (erythropoietin)	Anemia caused by specific illnesses; End Stage Renal disease; HIV; Bone marrow disorders; Prematurity; Some cancers	Mechanism of Action; -Stimulates production of blood cells; -Promotes stem cells to differentiate into proerythroblasts; -Promotes bone marrow to release erythrocytes; Promotes hemoglobin formation; Adverse Effects; -Arthralgias; -Hypertension; -Serious adverse effects occur when used with hemoglobin levels greater than 11 g/dL; -Tumor progression; -Death; -Severe hypertension and cardiovascular events	"E. Alan Poe" "Tin Can" "Alpha Symbol"
Darbepoetin	Anemia caused by specific illnesses; End Stage Renal disease; HIV; Bone marrow disorders; Prematurity; Some cancers	Mechanism of Action; -Stimulates production of blood cells; -Promotes stem cells to differentiate into proerythroblasts; -Promotes bone marrow to release erythrocytes; Promotes hemoglobin formation; Adverse Effects; -Arthralgias; -Hypertension; -Serious adverse effects occur when used with hemoglobin levels greater than 11 g/dL; -Tumor progression; -Death; -Severe hypertension and cardiovascular events	"Dart" "Poe" "Tin"