Type of anemia | Mechanism(s) | Examples of implicated medications |
Iron deficiency | Gastrointestinal mucosal irritation | - Aspirin
- NSAIDs
- Glucocorticoids
|
Vitamin B12 deficiency | Impaired absorption due to increased gastric pH | - Proton pump inhibitors
- H2 receptor blockers
- Antacids
|
Altered calcium homeostasis | |
Inactivation | |
Folate deficiency | Interference with folate metabolism | - Methotrexate
- Certain antibiotics (trimethoprim, pyrimethamine)
- Antiseizure medications (phenytoin, valproate, carbamazepine)
|
Hemolysis | Immune-mediated | - Antibiotics
- Anti-cancer drugs
- Lorazepam
- Others (refer to separate UpToDate table for extensive list)
|
Oxidative stress | - Antibiotics (primaquine, dapsone)
- Phenazopyridine
- Others (refer to separate UpToDate table)
|
Methemoglobinemia | - Benzocaine (topical)
- Lidocaine
- Nitrites
|
Thrombotic microangiopathy | - Quinine
- Chemotherapy agents (gemcitabine, others)
- Immunosuppressive therapies
- Others (refer to separate UpToDate table)
|
Impaired bone marrow function | Impaired DNA synthesis | - Hydroxyurea
- Chemotherapy agents
|
Sideroblastic anemia | - Isoniazid
- Chloramphenicol
- Linezolid
- Chemotherapy agents
- Zinc
|
Myelodysplastic syndrome | - Alkylating agents (melphalan, cyclophosphamide, carboplatin, cisplatin, others)
- Topoisomerase II inhibitors (vincristine, vinblastine)
- Others
|