Conditions and symptoms
What Is Hemolytic Anemia? Why Some Medicines Warn About It
Hemolytic anemia · say it: HEE-moh-LIT-ik uh-NEE-mee-uhAlso written: haemolytic anaemia, hemolysis, immune hemolytic anemia
Short answer
Hemolytic anemia is a low red blood cell count caused by red cells being destroyed faster than the body can replace them.
What it means
Red blood cells carry oxygen. In hemolytic anemia they break apart (hemolysis) faster than the bone marrow can make new ones. This can be inherited (as in G6PD deficiency or sickle cell disease) or acquired, such as from the immune system, infections or certain medicines. Signs include tiredness, breathlessness, pale or yellow skin, and dark (tea or cola-coloured) urine. Sudden dark urine with yellowing, breathlessness or feeling very unwell needs urgent medical help.
Labels list it because some medicines can trigger it, either through the immune system or in people with G6PD deficiency. Examples include primaquine, dapsone, some sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin and rasburicase. Some labels require a G6PD test before starting, and ask you to report dark urine or yellowing.
Anemia just means a low red cell or hemoglobin level. Hemolytic anemia is one type; others come from iron or vitamin shortage or bleeding.
Where you may see it
- 'Warnings' sections of primaquine, dapsone and some sulfonamide labels
- Blood test reports (hemoglobin, bilirubin, LDH, reticulocytes)
- Haematology clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
Hemolytic anemia may occur in patients with G6PD deficiency. Test for G6PD deficiency before prescribing.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean you are bleeding.
- It is not the same as iron-deficiency anemia, so iron tablets are not the treatment.
- A label warning does not mean it will happen to you.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Hemolytic anemia”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Hemolytic anemia”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Cephalexin
a cephalosporin antibacterial medicine (an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections)
- Dexamethasone
A corticosteroid, a synthetic adrenocortical steroid medicine that lowers inflammation and suppresses the immune system
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
an antihistamine (an antihistaminic agent) given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle
- Glimepiride
a sulfonylurea, a type of oral medicine used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
- Glipizide
a blood-sugar-lowering medicine of the sulfonylurea type
- Nitrofurantoin
an antibacterial medicine of the nitrofuran type, used for urinary tract infections
- Prednisolone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine. The label describes glucocorticoids as adrenocortical steroids, both naturally occurring and synthetic, that are readily absorbed from the stomach and intestines.
- Prednisone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine that works like the adrenocortical (adrenal gland) steroids the body makes naturally
- Primaquine
An antimalarial medicine of the 8-aminoquinoline group, as described in the label
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Hemolytic anemia” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “hemolysis”
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.