Details

Iron dextran is a form of the mineral iron. Iron is important for many functions in the body, especially for the transport of oxygen in the blood. Iron dextran is used to treat iron deficiencies and iron deficiency anaemia (low red blood cells). To make sure iron dextran is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have heart disease liver disease kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis) rheumatoid arthritis bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as haemophilia stomach bleeding asthma or allergies if you are allergic to any medication or if you use a beta-blocker medicine. Iron dextran can cause severe and sometimes fatal allergic reactions or severely low blood pressure.

Typical Uses

Iron dextran is used to treat "iron-poor" blood (anaemia) in people who cannot take iron by mouth because of side effects or because their anaemia has not been successfully treated by it. Low iron levels can occur when the body can't get enough iron from food (poor nutrition, poor absorption) or when there is a large or long-term blood loss (e.g., haemophilia, stomach bleeding). It is also used by people who have anaemia due to long-term kidney disease. Iron is an important part of your red blood cells and is needed to carry oxygen in the body. This medication is usually injected deep into the muscle of the buttock or slowly into a vein as directed by your doctor.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of iron dextran include fast or slow heartbeats, chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling) blue-coloured lips or fingernails red or pink urine weak or shallow breathing (breathing may stop) seizure (convulsions) swelling, warmth, redness, or itching where the medicine was injected or delayed effect (1-2 days after injection)-fever, chills, dizziness, headache, general ill feeling, nausea and vomiting, joint or muscle pain, back pain.

Drug Interactions

• Iron dextran+benazepril- If you are currently being treated with benazepril, you should talk to your doctor before receiving iron dextran. Medications like benazepril may occasionally increase the side effects of iron dextran such as allergic reactions, low blood pressure, light-headedness, fever, flushing, chest pain, back pain, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Allergic reactions to iron dextran may be serious and potentially life-threatening therefore, you must be closely monitored by your doctor while you are receiving the medication.

• Iron dextran+captopril- If you are currently being treated with captopril, you should talk to your doctor before receiving iron dextran. Medications like captopril may occasionally increase the side effects of iron dextran such as allergic reactions, low blood pressure, light-headedness, fever, flushing, chest pain, back pain, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. Allergic reactions to iron dextran may be serious and potentially life-threatening therefore, you must be closely monitored by your doctor while you are receiving the medication.

• Iron dextran+dimercaprol- Dimercaprol can bind with certain metals such as iron and selenium, forming a complex that is toxic to the kidneys. Products containing iron or selenium should not be used during dimercaprol therapy. If you are currently receiving or have recently received iron dextran, let your doctor know before receiving treatment with dimercaprol. You may need to wait at least 24 hours after the last dose of dimercaprol before you can start or resume iron dextran.

Mechanism of action

After iron dextran is injected, the circulating iron dextran is removed from the plasma by cells of the reticuloendothelial system, which split the complex into its components of iron and dextran. The iron is immediately bound to the available protein moieties to form hemosiderin or ferritin, the physiological forms of iron, or to a lesser extent to transferrin. This iron which is subject to physiological control replenishes haemoglobin and depleted iron stores.

Pregnancy Category : C