What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Darbepoetin alfa and heparin
Darbepoetin alfa's FDA label of July 7, 2026 names heparin in its warnings and precautions section; the heparin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name darbepoetin alfa. The darbepoetin alfa label: “Patients receiving Aranesp may require increased anticoagulation with heparin to prevent clotting of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.”
Check it at the source: the darbepoetin alfa FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 7, 2026, Amgen, Inc); the heparin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 28, 2025, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC).
What does the darbepoetin alfa label say about heparin?
Darbepoetin alfa label, warnings and precautionsPatients receiving Aranesp may require increased anticoagulation with heparin to prevent clotting of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.
Source: FDA drug label (ARANESP), Amgen, Inc, effective July 7, 2026 (SPL set 0fd36cb9-c4f6-4167-93c9-8530865db3f9), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the heparin label say about darbepoetin alfa?
Heparin's label (effective November 28, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name darbepoetin alfa in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Heparin Sodium), Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC, effective November 28, 2025 (SPL set d55b4a63-0c04-4874-b74f-9e9b9e8b008c), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Darbepoetin alfa | Heparin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anemia | Blood clots (DVT and PE), Atrial fibrillation |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $446.58 per mL 25 mcg/0.42 mL syring | $1.18 per mL 5,000 unit/mL vial |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once