Certain drugs may be linked to iron deficiency anemia when used long term

The long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and oral anticoagulants may be associated with an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia, according to a study published in BMJ Open Gastroenterology.

Investigators examined the relationship between the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, oral anticoagulants, antidepressants, antiplatelets and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of iron deficiency anemia among 1,210 adult patients — 409 of whom had iron deficiency anemia and 801 of whom didn’t have the condition.

Although there were no significant associations between antidepressants, antiplatelets and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the investigators found that the use of proton pump inhibitors and oral anticoagulants were associated with the risk of iron deficiency anemia. However, the link between oral anticoagulants and the condition was predominantly observed in patients with underlying hemorrhagic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, which suggested that iron deficiency anemia was correlated with chronic blood loss in these patients.

Read more: BMJ Open Gastroenterology

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