Anemia Drugs

Question 1

Factors Essential to Producing Healthy RBCs

Answer 1

Adequate amounts of iron, minute amounts of Vitamin B12 and folic acid, and essential amino acids and carbohydrates

Question 2

Types of Anemia

Answer 2

Megaloblastic (insufficient folic acid or B12)

Iron Deficiency Anemia (most common)

Pernicious Anemia (gastric mucosa does not produce intrinsic factor to absorb B12)

Question 3

Epoetin Alfa (Epogen)

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Adverse Effects of Erythropoietins

Answer 4

CNS: headache, fatigue, asthenia, dizziness, and seizure

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

CV: hypertension, edema, chest pain

DON’T WANT TO RAISE THE HEMOGLOBIN PAST 12

Question 5

Persons At Risk for Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Answer 5

Menstruating women with heavier flow

Pregnant and nursing women

Rapidly growing adolescents, especially those without a nutritious diet

Persons with GI bleeding

Question 6

Foods that Enhance Iron Absorption (Oral)

Answer 6

Orange juice, veal, fish, ascorbic acid

Question 7

Foods that Impair Iron Absorption (Oral)

Answer 7

Eggs, corn, beans, cereal products containing phytates

Question 8

Ferrous Sulfate (Feosol)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Contraindications for Iron Preparations

Answer 9

Allergy, hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, normal iron balance, peptic ulcer, colitis, regional enteritis

Question 10

Adverse Effects of Iron

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Folate Deficiencies

Answer 11

Caused by absorption problems in the small intestine, alcoholism

Question 12

B12 Deficiencies

Answer 12

Caused by poor diet, increased demand, lack of intrinsic factor

Question 13

Folic Acid Derivatives and Vitamin B12

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

Answer 14

Used to treat pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemias

Administered orally or intranasally to treat VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Question 15

Nursing Implications

Answer 15

KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN

Give test dose for IV route of iron

Patients should remain upright 15-30 min after oral iron doses