How to Select Medication for Anemia

Choosing the right medication to treat your anemia depends mainly on the type of anemia you have, how severe it is and what your doctor considers the best course of treatment. Despite the many variations of treatment available, your doctor will probably start with a very basic treatment, unless the circumstances are extreme and she has reason to believe your life is in danger. In such a case, she will select a more aggressive course of treatment.

Instructions

Select Medication for Anemia

• 1

  Start with supplements. The majority of people suffering from anemia have nutrition related anemia, which can be treated with iron or vitamin B12 supplements in the form of pills or injections. If you need high doses of any type of supplement, though, you will need a doctor's prescription.

• 2

  Be open to the idea of more invasive medication treatment, including platelet replacement and antibiotics. To select the right type of medication, your doctor will first need to determine the type of anemia you have and its cause. Once that is diagnosed, the medication and treatment can then be selected.

• 3

  Be ready for intensive treatment, such as IV fluids, oxygen or blood transfusions. While most doctors shy away from this, severe anemia (especially if caused by loss of blood) may require this type of aggressive treatment. Patients who need to be hospitalized due to their anemia symptoms will most likely need one (or all) of these treatments.

• 4

  Talk to your doctor about synthetic Erythropoietin (a hormone produced by the kidneys) or Vasopressors (a drug to reduce blood pressure). These two drugs help fight anemia by providing a break to the body in the production of red blood cells. Both medications are only used in very specific cases, so it's important that your doctor first determines which type of anemia you have and then selects the appropriate drug to treat it.

• 5

  Inquire about medications that suppress your immune system. Certain types of anemia require that you stop your body from fighting red blood cell production. This requires careful follow-up, especially if a second disease is present. After all, a suppressed immune system means your body will be more exposed to diseases and problems.