Calculating Iron Needs and Dose of INFeD®

Replacement of iron due to blood loss

Some individuals sustain blood losses on an intermittent or repetitive basis. Such blood losses may occur periodically in patients with hemorrhagic diatheses (familial telangiectasia, hemophilia, gastrointestinal bleeding) and on a repetitive basis from such procedures such as renal hemodialysis.2

Iron therapy in these patients should be directed toward replacement of the equivalent amount of iron represented in the blood loss.2

Replacement iron requirement in mg = blood loss (mL) x hematocrit

Example

Blood loss of 500 mL with 20% hematocrit
Replacement iron requirement = 500 x 0.20 = 100 mg
INFeD dose = 100 mg/50 = 2 mL

Administration

References

References

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2. INFeD® full Prescribing Information, Watson Pharma, Inc. July 2009.
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INFeD is indicated in the treatment of patients with documented iron deficiency in whom oral administration is unsatisfactory or impossible.

Important Safety Information

Anaphylactic-type reactions, including fatalities, have followed the parenteral administration of iron dextran injection. A test dose should be administered prior to the first therapeutic dose, followed by the full therapeutic dose if no signs or symptoms of anaphylactic-type reactions are seen. Resuscitation equipment and personnel trained in the detection and treatment of anaphylactic-type reactions must be readily available during all INFeD administrations. Patients should be observed for signs or symptoms of anaphylactic-type reactions during all INFeD administrations. Fatal reactions have followed the test dose and have also occurred in situations where the test dose was tolerated. Use INFeD only in patients in whom clinical and laboratory investigations have established an iron deficient state not amenable to oral iron therapy. Patients with a history of drug allergy or multiple drug allergies may be at increased risk of anaphylactic-type reactions. INFeD should be used with caution in individuals with histories of significant allergies and/or asthma, and is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to the product and patients with all anemias not associated with iron deficiency. INFeD should be used with extreme care in patients with serious impairment of liver function, and should not be used during the acute phase of infectious kidney disease. Unwarranted therapy with parenteral iron will cause excess storage of iron with the consequent possibility of exogenous hemosiderosis, which is particularly apt to occur in patients with hemoglobinopathies and other refractory anemias.