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compositionComposition:DEFEROXAMINE-500MG
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Desferal 500 mg Injection is used to remove excess iron from the body. It contains Deferoxamine which works by forming a complex with iron and eliminating it from the body. In some cases, this medicine may cause side effects such as flushing, skin rash, change in urine colour, headache, upset stomach, diarrhoea, and irritation at the injection site. Inform the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking any other medication, or have any pre-existing medical conditions.

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Written By Bayyarapu Mahesh Kumar , M Pharmacy
Reviewed By Dr Aneela Siddabathuni , MPharma., PhD
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More about the Product

Composition :

DEFEROXAMINE-500MG

Manufacturer/Marketer :

Novartis India Ltd

Consume Type :

Parenteral

Expires on or after :

Jan-27

Return Policy :

Not Returnable

About Desferal 500 mg Injection

Desferal 500 mg Injection is an injectable prescription medicine used to treat chronic iron overload, which often occurs in people who receive frequent blood transfusions. It is also used to treat sudden, acute iron poisoning and to clear excess aluminium buildup in patients undergoing long-term kidney dialysis. This medication plays a critical role in preventing organ and tissue damage caused by these excess metals.

Because Desferal 500 mg Injection is injected or infused, its use is typically scheduled daily or several times a week, requiring high consistency to successfully lower metal levels. It does not need to be taken with food, but maintaining a healthy fluid intake is vital to help your kidneys flush out the bound metals. Simple dietary adjustments, such as avoiding iron-rich foods, can further support your treatment results.

While using Desferal 500 mg Injection, you may notice mild side effects like redness or pain at the injection site, or slight nausea. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious symptoms, such as sudden changes in your vision or hearing.

Before you start using Desferal 500 mg Injection, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, heart problems, or any active infections. Do not take this medicine if you have severe kidney failure and are not on dialysis, or if you have previously had a severe allergic reaction to it.

Some medicines, including high doses of vitamin C, can interact with Desferal 500 mg Injection and increase your risk of heart problems. It is also essential to consult your doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to breastfeed, or are an older adult, as special monitoring may be required.

Uses of Desferal 500 mg Injection

Desferal 500 mg Injection is used in the treatment of chronic iron overload, acute iron poisoning, and aluminium overload. The detailed uses of Desferal 500 mg Injection are as follows:

  • Chronic iron overload: Desferal 500 mg Injection binds to excess iron in the blood and tissues, allowing the body to safely flush it out through urine and stool, which prevents damage to vital organs like the heart and liver.
  • Acute iron poisoning: In cases of sudden, dangerous iron overdose, Desferal 500 mg Injection acts quickly to bind the free iron in the bloodstream to prevent systemic toxicity and organ failure.
  • Aluminium overload: For patients on long-term kidney dialysis, Desferal 500 mg Injection binds to excess aluminium buildup in the bones and brain, helping to reduce related bone disease and brain dysfunction.

Key Benefits

Desferal 500 mg Injection helps remove excess iron or aluminium from the body, protecting your organs from long-term damage and improving your overall health. The benefits of this medication include:

  • Removes excess iron from the body, helping protect the heart, liver, and endocrine glands from long-term damage.
  • Supports healthy organ function and improves long-term health outcomes in people who require regular blood transfusions.
  • Helps relieve symptoms caused by iron overload, such as joint pain, fatigue, and abdominal discomfort, improving daily comfort and energy levels.
  • Removes excess aluminium from the body, helping support bone mineralisation, reduce the risk of fractures, and improve mobility over time.

Directions for Use

  • Your doctor will determine the dosage and timing of Desferal 500 mg Injection based on your health condition. Typically, it is administered every 8-24 hours.
  • Desferal 500 mg Injection will administered by a healthcare professional in a medical setting.
  • Do not self-administer this medication.

How Desferal 500 mg Injection Works

Desferal 500 mg Injection works through a process called chelation. Think of the medicine as a chemical magnet specifically designed to seek out and bind to free iron or aluminium ions circulating in your bloodstream and stored in your tissues. Once Desferal 500 mg Injection attaches itself to these metal ions, it forms a stable complex that the body can easily recognise as waste. This bound metal complex is then filtered out by your kidneys and liver, allowing it to be safely excreted from your body through your urine and stool. Because your body cannot naturally get rid of excess iron, this binding process is crucial to prevent the metal from depositing in and damaging your vital organs.
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Alcohol

Unsafe

It is not known whether the Desferal 500 mg Injection can interact with alcohol. However, you are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Desferal 500 mg Injection to avoid unpleasant side-effects.

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Pregnancy

Caution

Desferal 500 mg Injection is a pregnancy Category B medicine. It may not cause harm to an unborn fetus. However, Desferal 500 mg Injection should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor only if he/she thinks benefits outweigh the risks.

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Breast Feeding

Caution

Desferal 500 mg Injection should be used in breastfeeding mothers only if the benefits outweigh the risks as there is insufficient data available regarding the use of this medicine in breastfeeding mothers.

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Driving

Caution

After taking this drug, you can experience side effects like feeling dizzy, tired or alter your vision. If this occurs, do not drive or perform any work that requires a high level of concentration.

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Liver

Caution

Desferal 500 mg Injection to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. Your doctor may have to adjust the dose if there are symptoms of nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, or yellowing of skin/eye.

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Kidney

Caution

Desferal 500 mg Injection should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment since the metal complexes are excreted via the kidneys. In these patients, dialysis will increase the elimination of chelated iron and aluminum. So, it should be used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. The dose may have to be adjusted by the doctor.

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Children

Safe if prescribed

In children below the age of 3 years, Desferal 500 mg Injection may affect the growth. Regular checks on body weight and height are, therefore, recommended in children using Desferal 500 mg Injection.

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Heart

Consult your doctor

Please inform your doctor if you have a history of heart disease before using Desferal 500 mg Injection. Your doctor will prescribe it only if the benefits outweigh the risks.

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Geriatrics

Consult your doctor

Limited information available for use of Desferal 500 mg Injection in elderly patients. Please consult your doctor.

What if I have taken an overdose of Desferal 500 mg Injection

If you suspect an overdose, seek immediate medical attention or contact a poison control centre right away. Signs of an overdose can include severe dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting, or sudden vision changes.

Diet & Lifestyle Advise

  • Limit vitamin C intake: Talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin C supplements. While vitamin C can help Desferal 500 mg Injection remove iron, taking it in high doses can cause heart problems. Only take vitamin C if explicitly prescribed by your doctor.
  • Avoid iron-fortified foods and supplements: Read food labels carefully. Avoid multivitamins containing iron and foods heavily fortified with iron, such as certain breakfast cereals.
  • Limit red meat and iron-rich foods: Reduce your consumption of foods naturally high in iron, such as red meat and organ meats, to help manage your overall iron burden.
  • Stay well-hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as your kidneys need adequate fluids to flush out the bound iron complexes.
  • Avoid raw seafood: High iron levels can increase your risk of infections from certain bacteria found in raw shellfish. Ensure all seafood is thoroughly cooked before eating.
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Have a query?

How Soon It Starts Working

The time required for Desferal 500 mg Injection to start to work: The time required for Desferal 500 mg Injection to show its action is unknown. The time for which the effects of Desferal 500 mg Injection last: The duration of action for Desferal 500 mg Injection is clinically unknown.

What if you forget to take Desferal 500 mg Injection

If you miss a dose of Desferal 500 mg Injection, inject it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and resume your regular schedule. Do not inject a double dose to make up for a missed one. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of what to do.

Storage

• Store unopened vials of Desferal 500 mg Injection at room temperature, ideally between 20°C and 25°C (68°F to 77°F).

Drug Warnings

  • Check the solution before use: Make sure the dissolved medicine is clear before injecting it. Do not use it if it looks cloudy, has changed colour, or contains particles.
  • Rotate injection sites: Use a different injection site for each dose. This helps reduce skin irritation, thickening, and pain.
  • Have regular eye and hearing checks: Attend routine eye and hearing examinations during long-term treatment. These tests help detect any changes early.
  • Monitor your urine: A reddish-brown colour in your urine is a common and expected effect of Desferal 500 mg Injection. Contact your doctor if you notice a sudden decrease or change in the amount of urine you pass.
  • Do not share injection supplies: Never share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment with anyone. This helps prevent the spread of infections.
  • Watch for signs of infection: Contact your doctor immediately if you develop a fever, sore throat, or sudden abdominal pain. This medicine may increase your risk of certain bacterial infections.

Drug-Drug Interactions

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  • Vitamin C: When taken in high doses alongside Desferal 500 mg Injection, vitamin C can increase the risk of heart tissue damage by mobilising stored iron too quickly.
  • Drugs used to treat severe nausea and vomiting (e.g., Prochlorperazine): Combining Desferal 500 mg Injection with phenothiazine may cause temporary loss of consciousness or severe dizziness.

Drug-Drug Interactions

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How does the drug interact with Desferal 500 mg Injection:
Co-administration of Desferal 500 mg Injection and Cidofovir may increase the risk of kidney problems.

How to manage the interaction:
Taking Desferal 500 mg Injection with Cidofovir is not recommended, please consult your doctor before taking it. However, if you experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased or decreased urination, sudden weight gain or weight loss, swelling, shortness of breath, bone pain, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, and irregular heart rhythm contact your doctor immediately. Do not discontinue any medications without consulting a doctor
How does the drug interact with Desferal 500 mg Injection:
Co-administration of Vigabatrin with Desferal 500 mg Injection may increase the risk of serious side effects associated with vision loss, especially if used together for prolonged periods.

How to manage the interaction:
There may be a possibility of interaction between Desferal 500 mg Injection and Vigabatrin, but it can be taken if prescribed by a doctor. Routine vision testing is advised during treatment with vigabatrin. Do not discontinue any medications without a doctor's advice.
How does the drug interact with Desferal 500 mg Injection:
Coadministration of Desferal 500 mg Injection with Tenofovir disoproxil can increase the risk of kidney problems.

How to manage the interaction:
Taking Desferal 500 mg Injection and Tenofovir disoproxil together can lead to an interaction, it can be taken if advised by your doctor. However, if you experience any symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, increased or decreased urination, sudden weight gain or weight loss, swelling, shortness of breath, bone pain, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, and irregular heart rhythm, contact your doctor immediately. Do not discontinue any medications without consulting your doctor.

Drug-Food Interactions

verifiedApollotooltip
  • Iron-Rich Foods: Consuming foods extremely high in iron (like red meat or iron-fortified cereals) can work against Desferal 500 mg Injection by adding more iron to your body.
No Drug - Food interactions found in our database. Some may be unknown. Consult your doctor for what to avoid during medication.

Drug-Food Interactions

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Habit Forming

No

Therapeutic Class

[CHELATING AGENTS]

FAQs

Mild pain, redness, swelling, or irritation at the injection site is a common side effect of Desferal 500 mg Injection. Rotating injection sites with each dose may help reduce these reactions. If the redness becomes severe, spreads, feels warm, is associated with pus or fever, or does not improve, contact your doctor promptly. Other possible side effects include flushing, rash, low blood pressure, and abdominal pain. Seek medical advice if any side effects are severe or persistent.
This is a normal and harmless reaction. The reddish-brown color occurs because the medicine has successfully bound to the excess iron in your body and is flushing it out through your urine. If you experience pain when urinating or if the color change concerns you, talk to your doctor.
You should only take vitamin C if specifically prescribed by your doctor. High doses of vitamin C can interact with Desferal 500 mg Injection and cause serious heart problems by releasing stored iron too rapidly. Always talk to your doctor before starting any vitamins or dietary supplements.
The duration depends on whether you are receiving it intravenously or subcutaneously. Subcutaneous infusions using a portable pump often run slowly over 8 to 12 hours, typically overnight, while intravenous infusions are administered in a clinical setting over a timeframe decided by your medical team. Talk to your doctor to understand your specific administration schedule.
Desferal 500 mg Injection should only be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding if the potential benefits outweigh the risks to the baby. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, talk to your doctor to discuss safe alternative options.
Yes, in some cases, long-term or high-dose therapy with Desferal 500 mg Injection can cause temporary changes in your vision or hearing. Your doctor will likely recommend regular eye and hearing tests while you are using this medicine. If you notice any sudden changes in your sight or hearing, contact your doctor immediately.
There is no direct, severe interaction between alcohol and Desferal 500 mg Injection, but alcohol can put additional stress on your liver, which may already be affected by high iron levels. It is best to limit alcohol intake. Talk to your doctor about what is safe for you.
Desferal 500 mg Injection does not cure the underlying condition that causes iron buildup, such as a blood disorder requiring frequent transfusions. Instead, it effectively manages the excess iron to prevent organ damage. You will likely need to continue using this medication as long as you receive regular transfusions. Talk to your doctor to learn more about your long-term treatment plan.

Disclaimer

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Country of origin

India

Manufacturer/Marketer address

Sandoz House, Shiv Sagar Estate, Worli Mumbai -400 018, India
Other Info - DES0030
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