What is deferoxamine?
Deferoxamine binds to iron and removes it from the blood stream.
Deferoxamine is used to treat iron overload caused by blood transfusions in adults and
children at least 3 years old.
Deferoxamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking deferoxamine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to deferoxamine, if you have kidney
disease, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using deferoxamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
-
liver disease;
-
vision or hearing problems;
-
asthma or other breathing disorder;
-
heart disease;
-
low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia); or
-
a parathyroid disorder.
If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to
use deferoxamine or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether deferoxamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Long-term use of deferoxamine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child
using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
How should I take deferoxamine?
Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in
larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the instructions
on your prescription label.
Deferoxamine is sometimes given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein.
You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting. The medicine must be given slowly
through an IV infusion, and may be given for several hours in a row.
Deferoxamine is also sometimes injected into a muscle using an infusion pump over
several hours. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will set up the infusion pump.
You may be given instructions on how to use the pump at home. Do not use this medicine at
home if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles,
syringes, and other equipment used in giving the medicine.
Deferoxamine must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before injecting it. The mixed
solution should be clear with a colorless or slightly yellow appearance.
Do not use the medication if it has changed colors or has any particles in it. Call your
doctor for a new prescription.
It is best to use deferoxamine within 3 hours after mixing it, but you must use it within 24
hours. Throw away the medicine if it has been longer than 24 hours since it was mixed with the
liquid.
Each dose of this medication is for a single use only. Throw away any mixed medicine
that is leftover after giving the injection.
Use each needle and syringe only one time. Throw away used needles and syringes in a
puncture-proof container. If your medicine does not come with such a container, ask your
pharmacist where you can get one. Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
Your pharmacist can tell you how to properly dispose of the container.
Store unmixed deferoxamine at room temperature. You may store mixed medicine at
room temperature for up to 24 hours, but do not refrigerate it.
Your doctor may tell you to take vitamin C supplements while you are using
deferoxamine. Take only the amount of vitamin C your doctor has prescribed. Using too much
vitamin C while you are using deferoxamine can cause heart problems.
If a child is using deferoxamine, a doctor should check the child's growth every 3 months.
Do not miss any scheduled visits to your child's doctor.
If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into a vein,
you may need to temporarily stop using deferoxamine. Be sure the doctor knows ahead of time
that you are using this medication.
What happens if I miss a dose of deferoxamine?
Since deferoxamine is most often used only when needed, you may not be on a dosing
schedule. If you are using the medication regularly, use the missed dose as soon as you
remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at
your next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
use extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
Where can I get more information about deferoxamine?
Your pharmacist has information about deferoxamine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of deferoxamine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; joint or muscle pain; fever; headache; nausea or vomiting; difficulty
breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using deferoxamine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
-
fast heartbeats;
-
blue lips, skin, or fingernails;
-
severe, watery, bloody diarrhea with cramping;
-
cough, wheezing, gasping, or other breathing problems;
-
stuffy nose, fever, redness or swelling around your nose and
eyes, scabbing inside your nose;
-
stomach or back pain, coughing up blood;
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
-
urinating less than usual or not at all;
-
vision or hearing problems; or
-
leg cramps, bone problems, or growth changes (in a child
using this medication).
Keep using deferoxamine and talk to your doctor if you have any of
these less serious side effects:
-
numbness or burning pain anywhere in the body;
-
warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under the skin;
-
mild itching or skin rash;
-
mild diarrhea, nausea, or upset stomach;
-
dizziness;
-
reddish colored urine; or
-
pain, burning, swelling, redness, irritation, or a hard lump
where the medicine was injected.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your
doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about deferoxamine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to deferoxamine, if you have kidney
disease, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using deferoxamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have
liver disease, vision or hearing problems, asthma or other breathing disorder, heart disease, low
levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia), or a parathyroid disorder.
While you are using deferoxamine, get emergency medical help if you have any of
these
signs of an allergic reaction:
hives; joint or muscle pain; fever;
headache; nausea or vomiting; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Long-term use of deferoxamine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child
using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
If a child is using deferoxamine, a doctor should check the child's growth every 3 months.
Do not miss any scheduled visits to your child's doctor.
If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into a vein,
you may need to temporarily stop using deferoxamine. Be sure the doctor knows ahead of time
that you are using this medication.
What should I avoid while taking deferoxamine?
Deferoxamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What other drugs will affect deferoxamine?
Before using deferoxamine, tell your doctor if you are also using prochlorperazine
(Compazine) or a vitamin C supplement. You may not be able to use deferoxamine, or you may
need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs that can affect deferoxamine. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without
telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of deferoxamine?
