Anemia

[Heartmum56]

Anyone developed anemia as a result of heart medications? Lansaprazole and blood thinners apparently the culprits. Also because not eating enough red meat apparently and too much wholegrain and nuts which is what I thought I was supposed to I be doing! Pretty fed up about this. After making a reasonable recovery after HA, doing loads of exercise etc, now find myself tired and breathless.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

There is, apparently, a link between taking PPIs long term (as in many years) and the onset of anaemia. That said I have been taking high dose PPIs for reflux disease for nearly 25 years and I am not anaemic. And the reason aspirin and other NSAIDs have the potential to cause anaemia is that they can cause internal bleeding, so a possible solution for people who take low dose aspirin is to take enteric coated or gastro resistant rather than dissolvable which is what I do. I also avoid ibuprofen since it caused a stomach bleed, and advise others to avoid it too, it's terrible stuff. But if your GP considers you are clinically anaemic and changes to diet cannot fix it and the cause is unknown, then he/she can prescribe iron supplements and arrange for tests to find the cause.

[Beanlover in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

I had a severe bout of anemia a few years ago. I had been very breathless and they were investigating that, but no-one did any blood test. I had been taking PPIs for a while and Naproxen for my arthritis. Having discovered I had a paralysed diapraghm from a previous accident, but at that stage almost on my knees, I was sent for a blood test. Next morning called in for an immediate blood transfusion, followed by another one 2 wks later and a year of iron tablets. All they did was put it down to the anti inflammatories, as there was no other reason they could come up with. I gather it is frequently the case that they don't know what causes it. I knew that PPIs can lead to B12 deficiency, but not cause anaemia. I have now just started on dispersible aspirin, had thought that this was more easily digestible, but on the whole my GP is doing regular blod tests so assume anything untoward will show up.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Beanlover]

My ibuprofen 'incident' caused internal bleeding, I had black stools, was on the point of fainting and when I got to see the doctor he said I was borderline for a transfusion, but I didn't get one, because the cause of my anaemia had been identified. So I ended up on iron tablets for a few months. Apparently the body can only utilise so much iron to make haemoglobin, so if you don't get an immediate boost from a transfusion the road to recovery is slow as I found out. Ibuprofen is terrible stuff, yet its sold on a widespread basis like sweets and I'll bet most people don't understand how bad it can be for you, if taken over a few days at the maximum dose (or more) .

[Jackabee]

yes, I had this and took high dose iron tablets for a few months. Seems ok now

[Paula233]

Yes my iron levels dropped but meds may also have caused very heavy periods. 6 months of iron tablets and i think body got used to meds and I was 'normal' again. At first I ended up in hospital with breathlessness and chest pain but they sent me home saying not heart related and then it was my gp that did a blood test, gave me iron tablets and in 2 weeks I felt so much better and could walk up the stairs again!

[Thomas45]

I have been borderline anaemic for decades, long before I was put on a anticoagulant, ( which does not thin my blood). I was prescribed iron tablets, which my body reacted to badly, taking away what strength I had, so they were returned to the pharmacy.I did eat red meat then. I don't eat meat, apart from fish any more. My diet is largely vegetarian. I am no worse than I was thirty years ago.i was referred to a consultant haematologist at the local hospital but in the second visit I was discharged as I was only borderline anaemic.

It doesn't appear to affect me. Whenever I have a blood test with the results showing those effecting anaemia are "out of range, but not unexpected".

[CyclingTime]

Hi yes mine has been borderline since my operation. Same as yourself I am eating all the healthy things and then when you read up on them you find they block iron absorption

[DWizza]

I was diagnosed as anaemic post CABG, was prescribed iron tablets , a doctor friend told me to take a cut C tablet with the iron to help absorption. I just take them every other day now just as a precaution. . N probs .

[Turnipgirl]

I got diagnosed as anaemic back in 2018 due to heavy periods caused by rivaroxaban and my gp prescribed iron tablets for 3 months and a blood test for 3 months time and I had the repeat blood test and everything was fine and I have been fine since.

[wischo]

On PPIs for over 20 years due to chronic GERD and also heart meds and never had any problems. I still eat red meat along with most other things we are apparently not supposed to. Never had a heart attack but had stent for coronary disease and at 72 not going to make life miserable at this stage. Do a lot of exercise though so fingers crossed.

[Queenielover]

Yes I'm same had transfusion 7june and still anemic having BT est end month yes nuts seeds greens etcetera still low