IV Therapy for Patients with Anemia

Iron is a mineral that the body uses to make hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Most commonly, patients with low iron take oral iron supplements. Some patients may experience adverse side effects from oral iron such as nausea and constipation. Furthermore, some patients may not adequately absorb oral iron supplements.

In these cases, an IV iron supplement may be more appropriate.

Health Canada has approved iron to be given in the vein (IV) for people who have iron deficiency anemia with chronic kidney disease. In addition, your doctor may suggest IV iron for iron deficiency anemia if you have side effects from iron pills, if iron pills have not worked, if you have severe anemia, or if you are going for surgery very soon.

• Dizziness
• Chest discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Low blood pressure
• Headache

Serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis are rare. If you have any serious reactions after leaving the clinic, please go to your closest emergency department or call 911.

• Iron sucrose (Venofer)
• Iron isomaltoside (Monoferric)

If your prescriber determines that you require iron in the intravenous form, they will fill out a prescription and fax it to a local community pharmacy.

Both Venofer and Monoferric are covered by most private insurance plans.

For patients who are covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan (65+ years old, or on Ontario Works, ODSP, or Trillium), these medications may be covered if you have already tried oral iron and it did not work effectively.