Drug reference

Desferrioxamine

Antidote · Treatment of iron and aluminum overload

Also known as Desferrioxamine mesilate, Deferoxamine Mesilate, Desferal

AntidoteTreatment of iron and aluminum overloadATC V03AC01

CDSCO approvedSchedule HATC V03AC01

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

—

none in our sources

PREGNANCY

Teratogenic in animal studies. Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.

FDA category + note

Mechanism

Deferoxamine is an iron chelating agent that exhibits a remarkably high affinity for ferric iron (Ka = 10^31) and a very low affinity for calcium. It removes iron from hemosiderin and ferritin, and to a lesser extent, from transferrin, but iron in hemoglobin or cytochromes is not removed. It also acts as an effective chelator of copper, mercury, zinc, and lead, promoting their excretion in the urine.

Indications

Chronic iron overload (low iron overload)Chronic iron overload (established overload)Severe iron toxicity (serum iron levels >500 μg/dL)Moderately toxic cases of iron overload (serum iron 350-500 μg/dL)Chronic iron intoxication (e.g., thalassemia)Chelation of aluminum in dialysis patientsAcute iron poisoning

Dosing

Adult: For chronic iron overload: 20–50 mg/kg daily by subcutaneous infusion. For severe iron toxicity (serum iron levels >500 μg/dL): 10–15 mg/kg/hour by constant intravenous infusion. For moderately toxic cases (serum iron 350–500 μg/dL): 50 mg/kg intramuscularly. For chronic iron intoxication (e.g., thalassemia): 0.5–1.0 g/day intramuscularly or 1–2 g/day by continuous subcutaneous administration.…
Max dose: 1 g for intramuscular use in moderately toxic cases. 2 g/day for continuous subcutaneous administration in chronic iron intoxication. 2 g per unit of blood for slow intravenous infusion during blood transfusion.