Anemia treatment: medicines, supplements and other options

Treatment for anemia varies according to the cause of this disease and may include the use of medicines, supplements, injections or increased consumption of foods rich in iron, vitamin B12, vitamin C and folic acid, for example.

Furthermore, in some situations, the doctor may also recommend blood transfusion or bone marrow transplantation, a treatment that consists of replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow cells. See how a bone marrow transplant is performed.

Anemia is a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells is altered, causing weakness, lack of appetite, pale skin and headache. Understand better about anemia.

1. Medicines for anemia

Some remedies that may be indicated for the treatment of anemia are:

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, dexamethasone and Solu-medrol are prescribed for the treatment of hemolytic anemia;
• Analgesics, which can be indicated to relieve pain in people with sickle cell anemia;
• Anti-inflammatories, how diclofenac and ibuprofen can be prescribed to relieve the pain of sickle cell anemia;
• Immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine, prednisone, eltrombopag and cyclophosphamide, stimulate the bone marrow, helping to treat hemolytic anemia and aplastic anemia;
• Antibiotics, which are generally indicated to combat infections in sickle cell anemia and aplastic anemia, for example;
• immunomodulators, that decrease antibody production in people with hemolytic anemia.

Additionally, the doctor may also prescribe opioid medications to relieve severe pain in people with sickle cell anemia.

2. Supplements

Some oral supplements recommended to treat anemia include:

• Ferro: It is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia and should be used for approximately 6 months. See how to use iron supplements;
• Vitamina B12: These supplements are available in liquid or tablet form and are recommended to treat megaloblastic anemia and pernicious anemia;
• Folic acid: Found in tablet or liquid form, this supplement promotes the production of blood cells and can be indicated to treat megaloblastic anemia, thalassemia and pernicious anemia.

In addition, vitamin C supplements can also be prescribed to improve the absorption of iron present in foods and supplements.

3. Injections

Injections of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid, which can be applied into the muscle or vein, are prescribed by the doctor in cases of severe anemia, when treatment with supplements is ineffective or when the person cannot tolerate oral supplementation.

However, in some cases, a lack of vitamin B12 may be due to a lack of intrinsic factor, which is a substance present in the stomach that ensures the absorption of vitamin B12. In these cases, it is necessary to inject this vitamin directly into the vein.

4. Blood transfusion

Blood transfusion, which is a procedure in which complete blood or just some of its constituents are inserted into the person’s body, is recommended for cases of severe anemia, hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, aplastic anemia, thalassemia or Fanconi anemia.

5. Bone marrow transplant

Bone marrow transplant, which is a technique in which a person receives healthy marrow and promotes the formation of blood cells in adequate quantities, is the only treatment capable of curing aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia.

In addition, bone marrow transplantation may also be indicated to help treat thalassemia and Fanconi anemia.

6. Food

To complement the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, it is important to increase your intake of foods rich in iron, such as liver, chicken, fish, pumpkin seeds and chickpeas. Discover other foods rich in iron.

In addition, it is also recommended to eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as cashews, acerola, guava, strawberries and kiwi. This is because vitamin C improves the absorption of iron present in foods and supplements.

For the treatment of pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia, it is important to prioritize the intake of foods rich in vitamin B12, such as sardines, cheese and milk. See more foods rich in vitamin B12.

In the case of megaloblastic anemia caused by folic acid deficiency, foods such as spinach, broccoli, beetroot and black beans, for example, should be included in the diet.