The FDA is warning doctors to be more careful when prescribing anemia drugs. The agency says such drugs can lead to problems in patients with cancer and kidney disease and increase the chance of death.

Studies have found a link between overuse of the drug Epogen and two other drugs to an increased risk of death, blood clots, strokes and heart attacks in patients who have chronic kidney failure.

Drugs sold under the names Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp are the ones at issue.

Anemia is commonly found in patients with certain forms of kidney disease and in cancer patients who are taking chemotherapy.