Deferoxamine
Description
Deferoxamine is used for the treatment of acute iron overdose and chronic iron overload in the body due to multiple blood transfusions. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients below 3 years of age.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Deferoxamine
- Blurred vision
- Convulsions
- Difficulty in breathing
- Hearing problems
- Redness of skin
- Difficult or painful urination
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Leg cramps
- Unusual bleeding
Uses of Deferoxamine
What is it prescribed for?
- Iron poisoning
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time taken by this medicine to show its effects is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which this medicine remains effective in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after evaluating the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after evaluating the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of this medicine. You may be advised to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known allergy to Deferoxamine or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.
Severe renal impairment
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe impairment of kidney function due to the increased risk of serious adverse effects.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after evaluating the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment after evaluating the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of this medicine. You may be advised to discontinue breastfeeding or to discontinue the drug based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Hearing loss
This medicine may cause hearing impairment on prolonged use in some patients and should be used with extreme caution in patients with auditory abnormalities due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Respiratory distress syndrome
Use of high doses of this medicine may cause a breathing disorder called respiratory distress syndrome in some patients. Report any unusual symptoms to the doctor immediately. Close monitoring of clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Liver impairment
This medicine should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver impairment due to the risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of liver function tests is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Use in children
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients less than 3 years of age since the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Other uses
Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for indications other than those stated above in certain specific circumstances, especially if other medicines are not effective. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor in such cases.
Missed Dose
Since this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical/hospital setting, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Since this medicine is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Cidofovir
Vitamin C
Prochlorperazine
Disease interactions
Renal Dysfunction
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Close monitoring of kidney function tests is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe renal impairment
Ocular Toxicities
This medicine may cause blurred vision, visual disturbances, or ocular toxicities on prolonged use in some patients and should be used with extreme caution in patients with or predisposed to visual defects due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. Close monitoring of clinical condition, appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This medicine is usually administered in the clinical/hospital setting under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. Follow all the instructions given by your doctor. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine. Report all your current medicines as well as your medical conditions to the doctor before receiving this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine combines with the iron in the body and the complex thus formed is excreted in the urine.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antidotes, Chelating agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Deferoxamine - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2019 [cited 30 January 2019]. Available from:
DailyMed - Deferoxamine - deferoxamine mesylate injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2019 [cited 30 January 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Accessdata.fda.gov. 2019 [cited 30 January 2019]. Available from:
[Internet]. Mhra.gov.uk. 2019 [cited 30 January 2019]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 1 Feb 2019
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.