(Deferoxamine Mesilate)

Indications: chronic iron overload; iron poisoning; aluminium overload in dialysis patients.

Cautions: renal impairment; eye and ear examinations before treatment and at 3-month intervals during treatment; monitor body-weight and height in children at 3-month intervals—risk of growth retardation with excessive doses; aluminium-related encephalopathy.

Side Effects: hypotension (especially when given too rapidly by intravenous injection), disturbances of hearing and vision (including lens opacity and retinopathy); injection-site reactions, gastro-intestinal disturbances, asthma, fever, headache, arthralgia and myalgia; very rarely anaphylaxis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, neurological disturbances (including dizziness, neuropathy and paraesthesia), Yersinia and mucormycosis infections, rash, renal impairment, and blood dyscrasias.

Dose: by slow SC infusion, by means of a portable pump, over a period of 8-12 hours, 20-60mg/kg, 4-7 times a week depending on the degree of iron overload.

IM injections are less effective.

IV infusions of deferoxamine can be administered during blood transfusion.

Continuous IV infusion could be used in patients incapable of tolerating SC infusions or who have cardiac problem secondary to iron overload.

Pregnancy: Teratogenic in animal studies; use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.

Breast Feeding Manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.