Injectafer

What is an Injectafer?

Injectafer, an injectable iron product, is injected directly into a vein. It is used to treat iron deficiency (IDA) among adults and children aged 1 year and older with an intolerance or unsatisfactory reaction to oral iron, or IDA among adults who do not require dialysis.
It can also be used for adults with heart failure class II or III, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA).

Iron is normally obtained from food. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your tissues and organs through your blood. Injectafer can be used after oral (taken orally) iron replacement medicine has failed. Injectafer delivers 100% of its iron to the bloodstream.Injectafer received FDA approval on July 25, 2013.

Warnings

There have been reports of hypersensitivity reactions after intravenous administration. You will be observed by your healthcare provider for signs and symptoms during the injectafer injection and for 30 minutes afterwards, or until you feel stable.

Injectafer can cause low levels of phosphate in your blood. If you need intravenous iron and are at risk for low serum phosphate, your healthcare provider will monitor the serum phosphate level.
Your blood pressure may increase after receiving an injector. After each injector shot, your healthcare provider will check for symptoms of high blood pressure.

Injectafer should not be used if you suffer from iron overload disorder or anemia not caused by iron deficiencies.Injectafer may be safe and effective for children under one year old with IDA or children with mild to moderate heart disease and iron deficiency to improve their exercise capacity.

Before you take this drug

Injectafer should not be used if you have an allergy to ferric carboxymaltose or any other inactive ingredient in the injection.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Injectafer will be safe for you:

• An allergic reaction to iron injections into veins
• High blood pressure
• If you have a history of absorbing vitamins, phosphate, or vitamin D in your body or low levels of vitamin D
• Have inflammatory bowel diseases
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Injectafer is a drug that you may have received before.
• If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, The injection of injectafer can harm the unborn child, and hypersensitivity reactions could be serious. Iron deficiency during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature births or low birthweight. Injectafer's benefits must outweigh the risks for your baby. Inform your healthcare provider immediately if you think or become pregnant during treatment.
• Are you breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed? It is unknown if Injectafer will harm your child if it passes through your breast milk. Speak to your healthcare provider to find out the best way to nourish your baby while undergoing treatment. Tell your doctor about diarrhea or constipation if your baby is nursing.

Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are taking, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How to take Injectafer?

A healthcare provider injects injectafer into a vein.

• Iron deficiency and mild to moderate heart disease are treated with two doses given 7 days apart or 6 weeks apart.
• Injectafer can be administered intravenously, either by a slow injection into a vein or an infusion lasting at least 15 minutes.
• In some cases, injectafer can be administered in a single dosage.
• If you experience any pain or burning when an injector has been injected, tell your doctor.
• The doctor will monitor you for at least 30 minutes to ensure that you are not allergic.

Even if you don't have any symptoms, you may still need to undergo frequent medical testing.Injectafer can be used again if the healthcare provider deems it necessary.

Details on dosage

Weight is a factor in determining the dose of iron deficiency for adults and children.

• If you weigh 50 kg or more, take 2 doses of 750mg via slow IV push or infusion, spaced by 7 days.
• If you weigh less than 50 kg, two doses of 15 mg/kg by slow IV push or infusion should be spaced at least seven days apart.

Maximum dose: a total cumulative dose of no more than 1500 mg of iron per course.Iron deficiency and heart failure dosagethe dose is dependent on weight and hemoglobin levels. Please consult the prescribing information.

What happens if I miss the dose?

If you are unable to attend your Injectafer appointment, call your doctor and ask for directions.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.

• Pain, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, blood in the cough, or weight loss are all symptoms that can occur from an overdose.

What should be avoided?

Avoid taking iron or vitamin or mineral supplements that have not been prescribed by your doctor.

Side effects of injectafer

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, feeling as though you may pass out, wheezing or difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue,

Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

• Increased blood pressure symptoms include dizziness, nausea, and sudden redness or warmth in the face. You may also experience severe headaches or a pounding sensation in your neck or ear.
• Low levels of phosphorus can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and broken bones.
• High levels of iron in the body can cause fatigue, weakness, joint pains, finger and stomach pains, weight loss, irregular pulse beats, and fluttering in the chest.

Some of the common injectable side effects that affect more than 2% of people include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• High blood pressure
• Injection site reactions
• Rash
• Flushing (warmth, redness, or tingling feeling)
• Low phosphorus levels.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Report side effects to the FDA by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with other drug

Ferric carboxymaltose may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbal products, vitamins, and supplements. Inform your doctor of all the other medications you take.