Iron Dextran Imferon ®

Usual Diluents

NS

Standard Dilutions   [Amount of drug]  [Infusion volume]  [Infusion rate]

(Test dose) [25 mg] [100 ml] [5 min] [Prescribed dose] [250 to 1000ml] (Usually 500 ml NS) Total dose infusion: infuse over 2 to 6 hours.

Stability / Miscellaneous

Parenteral iron treatment should be administered only when iron deficiency is not correctable with oral treatment.  A test dose of 25 mg infused over 5 minutes should be given. Infusion should then be stopped for 1 hour. If there is no reaction after 1 hour continue. Fatal anaphylactic reactions are possible.  May also be given IM or slow IVP (1 ml/min x 2 min = 100 mg). Epinephrine should be immediately available.  Total amount of iron dextran required in ml (Total dose infusion) = 0.0442 (14.8 - observed Hgb) x IBW + (0.26 x IBW).  Parenterally administered iron does not give a faster response compared to oral administration, therefore, the rate of recovery from anemia should be the same. Reticulocyte count will increase in 3-4 days and peak in 7-10 days.