Drug reference

Iron dextran

Iron Supplement · Iron supplement

Also known as DEXFERRUM, INFED, IMFERON, FERRI INJ, iron-dextran

Iron SupplementIron supplementATC B03AC

CDSCO approvedSchedule HATC B03AC

EXCRETION

—

not curated

INTERACTIONS

11 major

SEVERE in our sources

PREGNANCY

FDA category + note

Top interactionssee all 11 →

BenazeprilSevereDatabaseDDInter
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Mechanism

Iron dextran is a stable colloidal complex of ferric oxyhydroxide and dextran polymers. After administration, bioactive iron is slowly released from these stable particles. This iron is then made available to the erythron for heme synthesis, which helps to correct iron deficiency anemia.

Indications

Iron deficiency anemia when oral therapy is unsuccessful due to intolerance, unreliable intake, continuing blood loss, or malabsorptionManagement of chemotherapy-induced anemia (when given with erythropoietins)Patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis (and some on peritoneal dialysis)Iron malabsorption (e.g., sprue, short bowel syndrome)Severe oral iron intoleranceRoutine supplement to total parenteral nutritionPatients receiving erythropoietin (especially hemodialysis patients as oral iron therapy alone may be insufficient)Creation of iron stores in iron-deficient patients and pregnant womenDocumented iron deficiency with intolerance or unresponsiveness to oral ironPatients with extensive chronic anemia who cannot be maintained with oral iron alone or require rapid repletion (e.g., postgastrectomy conditions, small bowel resection, inflammatory bowel disease involving the proximal small bowel, malabsorption syndromes)Severe iron deficiency with chronic bleedingiron deficiency in patients with intolerance to oral ironiron deficiency in patients with unsatisfactory response to oral ironWhen oral iron is not toleratedFailure to absorb oral iron (malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic inflammation)Non-compliance to oral ironSevere deficiency with chronic bleedingAlong with erythropoietin (to meet demands of induced rapid erythropoiesis)

Dosing

Adult: Intramuscular: Injection given deeply in the gluteal region using Z track technique. Iron dextran can be injected 2 ml daily, or on alternate days, or 5 ml each side on the same day. Intravenous: After a test dose of 0.5 ml iron-dextran injected i.v. over 5–10 min, 2 ml can be injected per day taking 10 min for the injection.…
Pediatric: Intramuscular: Daily dose ordinarily not to exceed 0.5 mL (25 mg of iron) for infants weighing less than 4.5 kg, 1 mL (50 mg of iron) for children weighing less than 9 kg.

Pharmacokinetics

Excretion

Not excreted in urine or in bile.

Contraindications

Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including life-threatening and fatal anaphylactic reactions
Patients with a strong allergy history
Patients who have had a prior reaction to parenteral iron
rheumatoid arthritis (use with extreme caution)
connective tissue diseases (use with extreme caution)
acute phase of an inflammatory illness (use with extreme caution)

Side effects

Common

HeadacheLight-headednessMalaiseFeverGeneralized lymphadenopathyArthralgiasUrticariaBack painFlushingBronchospasmNausea and vomitingLocal pain (IM injection)Tissue staining (IM injection)local reactions (intramuscular injection)Pain at site of i.m. injectionpigmentation of skinsterile abscesslocal pain lasting weeks (with higher i.m. dose)joint painspalpitationchest paindyspnoealymph node enlargement

Serious

Serious hypersensitivity reactions (including life-threatening and fatal anaphylactic reactions)
Anaphylaxis
Death
Exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis
Giddiness (during IV infusion)
Paresthesias (during IV infusion)
Tightness in the chest (during IV infusion)
anaphylactic reactions
delayed hypersensitivity reactions (fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy, arthralgias, urticaria)
vascular instability
respiratory distress
hypotension
tachycardia
back pain
chest pain
iron overload (with multiple total-dose infusions)
Anaphylactoid reaction resulting in vascular collapse and death (rarely)
anaphylactic reactions (more common than with newer preparations)