We often get asked: What is an iron infusion?
An iron infusion is the intravenous administration of iron. That means that iron goes directly into your bloodstream through a drip.
At The Clinic, we use a medicine called Ferinject for iron infusions. We administer Ferinject through a drip to treat some medical conditions such as iron deficiency anaemia. The medicine contains iron in the form of ferric carboxymaltose which is a preparation that can be administered as an intravenous infusion over a shorter infusion period compared to older forms of intravenous iron medicines.
When is an iron infusion recommended?
Your doctor may suggest you have an iron infusion if you are iron deficient and your body has had adverse side effects to iron tablets.
The side effects you may be experiencing from taking iron supplement tablets include:
Nausea
Stomach pain
Constipation
Headaches
Your doctor may also recommend iron infusion if iron stores in your body are very low to increase iron stores quickly or when oral iron supplements are ineffective.
Why do our bodies need iron?
Iron is a mineral that is essential to human life, needed for its production of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the red protein found in the blood that is responsible for carrying oxygen to our tissues. Iron deficiency occurs if your body does not have enough iron stores so your body can only make fewer red blood cells; this means your body has less haemoglobin which can cause anaemia. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia.
Your doctor will discuss possible side effects and obtain consent before the infusion. You will be monitored during the iron infusion. Please notify your doctor or nurse if you feel unwell or if you experience any side effects during your treatment. You can go home after your treatment has finished. Learn more about what to expect.
A follow-up blood test about four weeks after treatment is usually done to check your iron stores. In the case that your iron has not increased, further tests or the referral to a specialist for additional investigations may be required.
Ferinject iron infusion is now available in The Clinic for your convenience. Call us today on 03 9741 1200 or book an online appointment so you can discuss with your doctor.
