Do you always feel tired? Do you fall down after climbing a few stairs or running after a bus? Maybe someone has said that your face is pale and your nails are dug in like spoons. The cause of many of these things can be a lack of iron in the body. In medical terms, we call this iron deficiency anemia . Although there are pills to take by mouth for this, for some people, those pills alone are not enough. That's when doctors think about an iron injection given intravenously. Today we are talking about one such injection, Ferric Derisomaltose.
Simply put, what is Ferric Derisomaltose?
This is a liquid medicine that is given intravenously to replace the iron deficiency in your body. Think of the red blood cells in our blood as small trucks that carry oxygen around the country. Iron is an essential ingredient to make these trucks work properly. When iron is lacking, these trucks (red blood cells) do not work properly, so they cannot carry oxygen throughout the body. That is when we feel tired and lethargic.
Ferric Derisomaltose injection provides the body with the necessary amount of iron quickly. This is commonly found in Sri Lankan hospitals under the brand name MONOFERRIC .
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before giving you this vaccine, your doctor will ask you a few questions. It is very important for your safety that you tell the truth without hiding anything.
| Situation you need to report | Why is that? The reason |
|---|---|
| If you have an allergy to iron or any other medicine | Since this vaccine can also cause allergies, you can take safety measures by being aware of it in advance. |
| If your iron levels are already high | Having too much iron in the body is also not a good thing. Therefore, giving this vaccine can make the condition worse. |
| If you are pregnant or expecting a baby | Any medication should be used with great caution during pregnancy. The doctor will take special care of it. |
| If a mother is breastfeeding her child | The doctor must determine whether the components of the medicine can pass to the baby through breast milk. |
How is this medicine administered to the body?
This is not a medicine you can take home and use.
- This medicine is only given in a hospital or clinic .
- This is injected into your vein by a trained nursing staff.
- If you give this medicine to children, special care should be taken. Your doctor will explain this to you.
What if the dosage suddenly increases?
This is given in a hospital setting, so the chances of this happening are very low. However, if you think you may have overdosed, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. If necessary, medical staff can also call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
What if I can't get the vaccine on the scheduled day?
This is a scheduled dose. If you miss your scheduled dose, do not skip it. Call your doctor or clinic immediately to reschedule your dose.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Some of the things you use can interact with this iron injection. This means that taking them together can cause unwanted effects. In particular, this medicine should not be given together with the following things:
- Deferoxamine
- Dimercaprol
- Other iron products
It's important to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, vitamins, herbal remedies, and your habits (such as smoking and alcohol use) so he or she can treat you in the safest way possible.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
After receiving the vaccine, the doctor will call you back to see how you are doing.
- Follow-ups: Be sure to go to the clinic on the days your doctor tells you. Let him know if your symptoms are improving or not.
- Blood work: Your doctor will order several blood tests to check your iron levels and hemoglobin levels.
- Diet: In addition to taking medication, it is also important to eat foods rich in iron. Talk to your doctor about this. For example:
- Vegetables: spinach, gotukola, kankun, mukunuwenna
- Flakes: Lentils, peas, soy
- Meats: especially liver
- Dried fruits: dates, raisins
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. But not everyone gets them. Let's break these down into two categories.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to inform your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Low blood pressure | Dizziness, blue eyes, feeling light-headed, fainting. |
| Shortness of breath | Feeling of tightness, tightness in the chest. |
| Usually nothing to worry about, but if it persists, here are some things to tell your doctor: | |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
| Headache | A common headache. |
| Joint and muscle pain | Pain in the body and joints. |
| Pain/redness at the injection site | Slight pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site. |
This list is not all possible side effects. If you notice anything unusual in addition to these, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Ferric Derisomaltose is an iron injection given intravenously to treat iron deficiency anemia.
- Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, allergies, and other medications you are taking.
- This is only given in a hospital or clinic. It cannot be used at home.
- If you experience any allergic symptoms (such as hives, difficulty breathing), seek medical advice immediately.
- As the doctor says, go back for checkups and get the necessary blood tests. Don't forget to eat a diet rich in iron.
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