What You Need To Know About Iron Infusions

Prior to your appointment, your provider should have on record your most recent CBC and ferritin level. These along with your symptoms will be assessed and measured for the most successful treatment protocol.

Our iron infusion appointments last a little less than 2 hours so please wear comfortable clothing. Your infusion could be in a private or semi-private room depending on availability.

Please feel free to bring your cell phone and headphones of choice for entertainment. Please turn off your ringer and avoid phone conversations during the treatment to avoid interruption in the clinic.

Indications

Iron infusions are used for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult and pediatric patients ages 6 and older. It is FDA approved to use in patients on hemodialysis and epoetin therapy.

*Not to used in our clinic during pregnancy

*18 years and older only

Benefits of Iron Replacement

Iron infusions can boost energy fast. It can improve fatigue and brain fog within days to weeks. Red blood cells get rebuilt so oxygen flows better with less shortness of breath, stronger workouts, warmer hands and feet. Other improvements include stronger nails and hair support, decrease in restless legs and mood steadiness.

Contraindications

  • Those who have a known hypersensitivity to sodium ferric gluconate or any of its inactive components

  • Those with already high ferritin levels

How do I prepare for an iron infusion?

  • Make sure you are well hydrated and have eaten a light meal prior to arrival

  • Avoid iron supplementation the day of treatment

  • Check with the office medical provider concerning your current medications and discuss whether you should take them prior to treatment.

What to expect during and after your infusion

  • Infusion appointments can last up to 2 hours so please wear comfortable clothing

  • You may notice a slight metallic taste in your mouth that resolves

  • Mild fatigue the day of infusion

  • Light headedness or dizziness when not well-hydrated

Adverse reactions or side effects

  • Most common in adult patients are nausea, vomiting and or diarrhea

  • Injection site reaction

  • Hyper/hypotension

  • Leg cramps

  • Dizziness, dyspnea, chest pain

  • In patients 6-15 years of age the most common reaction is hypo/hypertension & headache

Follow Up & Monitoring

  • We will monitor you for 30 minutes after your 1-hour infusion so do not be ready to run out the door as soon as the IV is completed

  • Our goal is to achieve a target ferritin greater than 100mg/l and hemoglobin greater than 12g/dl

  • If multiple infusions are needed we will monitor blood levels as well as other metabolic function levels in between sessions

    What can I expect over the next several weeks to months?

    Patients have reported improvements within the first few days, but the progression usually starts with a lift in energy and brain fog. Then comes the focus, stamina and energy by the end of the month. You may notice warmer hands and feet. Improvement in hair and nails can also be reported.

    Results can last 6 months to a year and are individualized. This can be monitored by our medical providers and in-house lab around 2-4 weeks post treatment then quarterly.

    *Clinical research found that when patients without CKD or on dialysis take Ferrlecit 250mg twice monthly for 3 months, 55% can reach the target of a hemoglobin of 12g/dl. In the same study, nearly half of the patients had an increase of greater than 2g/dl of hemoglobin on Ferrlecit regimen in the non-dialysis patients with severe iron deficiency. Clinicians can effectively improve hemoglobin levels and iron sources while maintaining favorable safety profile.

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