Anemia Drugs Flashcards
Factors Essential to Producing Healthy RBCs
Adequate amounts of iron, minute amounts of Vitamin B12 and folic acid, and essential amino acids and carbohydrates
Types of Anemia
Megaloblastic (insufficient folic acid or B12)
Iron Deficiency Anemia (most common)
Pernicious Anemia (gastric mucosa does not produce intrinsic factor to absorb B12)
Epoetin Alfa (Epogen)
Erythropoiesis stimulating agent
Biosynthetic form of natural hormone erythropoietin
Used for the treatment of anemia associated with end-stage renal disease, chemotherapy-induced anemia, and for anemia associated with zidovudine therapy
Adverse Effects of Erythropoietins
CNS: headache, fatigue, asthenia, dizziness, and seizure
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
CV: hypertension, edema, chest pain
DON’T WANT TO RAISE THE HEMOGLOBIN PAST 12
Persons At Risk for Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Menstruating women with heavier flow
Pregnant and nursing women
Rapidly growing adolescents, especially those without a nutritious diet
Persons with GI bleeding
Foods that Enhance Iron Absorption (Oral)
Orange juice, veal, fish, ascorbic acid
Foods that Impair Iron Absorption (Oral)
Eggs, corn, beans, cereal products containing phytates
Ferrous Sulfate (Feosol)
Oral iron preparation
Can stain teeth and cause dark stools
Used for treatment of iron deficiency anemias and may be used as adjunct therapy in patients receiving Epoetin Alfa
Contraindications for Iron Preparations
Allergy, hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, normal iron balance, peptic ulcer, colitis, regional enteritis
Adverse Effects of Iron
CONSTIPATION, BLACK TARRY STOOLS, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, painful injections
Parenteral iron preparations associated with severe anaphylactic reactions, local irritation, staining of tissues, and phlebitis
Folate Deficiencies
Caused by absorption problems in the small intestine, alcoholism
B12 Deficiencies
Caused by poor diet, increased demand, lack of intrinsic factor
Folic Acid Derivatives and Vitamin B12
Essential for cell growth and division for the production of a strong stroma in RBCs
B12 necessary for the maintenance of the myeline sheath in nerve tissues
FOLIC ACID SHOULD NOT BE USED UNTIL ACTUAL CAUSE OF ANEMIA IS DETERMINED
Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Used to treat pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemias
Administered orally or intranasally to treat VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY
Nursing Implications
KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN
Give test dose for IV route of iron
Patients should remain upright 15-30 min after oral iron doses