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Antihypertensive agents: Epoetin may increase blood pressure, possibly to hypertensive levels, especially when the hematocrit is rising rapidly; more intensive antihypertensive therapy (increase in dosage, administration of additional and/or more potent medications) may be required to control blood pressure.
Heparin: An increase in heparin dosage may be required in patients receiving hemodialysis, because epoetin-induced increases in red blood cell volume may lead to blood dotting in the dialyzer and/or vascular access (arteriovenous shunt).
Iron supplements: Iron requirement may be increased as existing iron stores are used for erythropoiesis; some clinicians recommend supplementation for all patients who are not overloaded with iron because of frequent blood transfusions; in some patients, oral iron supplementation may be insufficient and intravenous iron dextran may be required.
