What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Epoetin and heparin
Epoetin's FDA label of June 22, 2025 names heparin in its warnings and precautions section; the heparin labels PlainMeds reads (4) do not name epoetin. The epoetin label: “Patients receiving PROCRIT may require increased anticoagulation with heparin to prevent clotting of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.”
Check it at the source: the epoetin FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 22, 2025); the heparin FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 28, 2025, Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC).
What does the epoetin label say about heparin?
Epoetin label, warnings and precautionsPatients receiving RETACRIT may require increased anticoagulation with heparin to prevent clotting of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis.
Source: FDA drug label (Procrit, BLA103234), Janssen Products, LP, effective April 9, 2025 (SPL set 0c721ba4-ae19-417f-aae1-221ed1a0866a), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (RETACRIT), Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc, effective June 22, 2025 (SPL set 3af26b0d-8ad0-44e1-a538-8bdb5ab39374), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the heparin label say about epoetin?
Heparin's label (effective November 28, 2025) and its 3 other brand-application labels do not name epoetin 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
| Epoetin | Heparin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Anemia | Blood clots (DVT and PE), Atrial fibrillation |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $32.27 per mL 2,000 units/mL vial | $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