Various Blood-boosting Medications and Side Effects

Anemia or anemia can be treated by taking blood-boosting drugs and consuming a high-iron food intake. But before taking blood booster drugs, know the various types and side effects. Blood booster medication is intended to overcome blood deficiencies, such as anemia and neutropenia. Anemia occurs when blood does not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, which is the main part of red blood cells that bind oxygen. As a result, cells in the body will not get enough oxygen. While neutropenia is a condition in which the number of neutrophil white blood cells in the body is low or below the normal number. Neutrophils play a role in fighting infections, especially those caused by bacteria and fungi.

Blood Enhancing Medication for Anemia

• Iron, vitamin B12 and folate

To produce red blood cells, the body needs the intake of iron nutrients, vitamin B12 and folate. When these three substances are not fulfilled from daily nutritional intake, then the body can experience anemia. If it is caused by iron deficiency anemia, the body will need additional iron supplement intake to meet the body's iron needs so that the process of formation of red blood cells can run normally. However, this supplement needs to be adjusted to the dose of iron for infants, children, and adults. Whereas if there is vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anemia, the body will need vitamin B12 supplements and folic acid. Some of the side effects of iron that can occur are digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, black bowel movements, and decreased appetite. While the side effects of vitamin B12 supplements and folic acid that can occur are dizziness, headaches, and nausea. But the side effects of these two supplements generally occur if consumed in high doses.

• Recombinant human erythropoietin

The growth of red blood cells in the blood is regulated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) produced in the kidneys. When this hormone cannot be produced due to certain diseases, then the body will experience anemia. This drug is used for the treatment of chronic anemia caused by disorders of the EPO hormone in pediatric and adult patients. In addition, it can also be used in patients with chronic kidney failure, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, HIV sufferers, and patients who need blood transfusion in the long run. Giving this drug can not be given to patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, allergic to products made from animal protein or human albumin, seizures, epilepsy, chronic liver failure, have red blood cell abnormalities such as humans, seizures, epilepsy, chronic liver failure, have red blood cell abnormalities such as sickle cell anemia, cancer, and pregnant and lactating women. These blood enhancing drugs have side effects such as headaches, allergic reactions, joint pain, nausea, swelling, fatigue, fever, and increased blood pressure.

Blood Enhancing Medication for Neutropenia

• Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor

The growth of white blood cells including neutrophils in the body occurs in the bone marrow and is controlled by a substance called Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF). If there is a disease or medical disorder that inhibits the work of G-CSF, then the body will experience a deficiency of neutrophil cells or neutropenia. There are three types of drugs that function as synthetic G-CSF, namely lenograstim, filgrastim, and pelfigrastim. These drugs are used to treat neutropenia in several conditions, such as post-chemotherapy, neutropenia due to impaired growth of white blood cells, and bone marrow transplant operations. This drug cannot be given to patients with allergies to synthetic G-CSF drugs, impaired kidney and liver function or to patients with leukemia who have not undergone chemotherapy treatment. While the side effects include bone pain, headache, weakness, abdominal pain, spleen swelling, and increased platelets.

• Stem cell therapy

Stem cell therapy is a treatment method for treating disorders of blood cell growth in the bone marrow. This therapy is now used as a blood booster medication for diseases such as impaired growth of white and red blood cells or aplastic anemia, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. But this therapy can cause a number of side effects, namely pain, rejection reactions to donor cells, infection, and organ damage.

If you suffer from anemia or neutropenia, it is recommended to always consult a doctor so that the drugs given according to the cause.