Desferal
Generic: Deferoxamine Mesylate
Daily Dose:
Course Duration:
Cheaper & Alternative Brands (500 mg/vial)
Same active generic (Deferoxamine Mesylate), same form (Injection), exact same strength (500 mg/vial)No other brands currently registered with this exact active generic and dosage form.
Clinical Prescribing Information
Medical monograph and safety information for healthcare professionals & patients.Indications & Clinical Uses
Desferal is indicated for:
Acute iron intoxication.
Chronic iron overload due to transfusion-dependent anemias.
Diagnosis of aluminum overload (Desferal) infusion test.
Chronic aluminum overload in patients with End-Stage Renal Failure (ESRF) under maintenance dialysis.
Dosage & Administration
Deferoxamine mesylate should only be given parenterally. The dose should not exceed 6.0 grams in a twenty-four hour period. Although Deferoxamine can be given by intramuscular injection, in most cases it exerts a considerably greater effect when administered by continuous infusion either intravenously (especially in cases of acute iron intoxication) or subcutaneously (especially in patients with chronic iron overload).
Rapid intravenous injection of Deferoxamine exceeding 15 mg/kg/h has produced flushing of the skin, urticaria, hypotension and shock
Contraindications
Patients who are hypersensitive to deferoxamine mesylate or component of the container, except where desensitization is successful.
Warnings & Precautions
Therapy with Desferal should be initiated and maintained by physician experienced in the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions. It should be noted that some of the signs and symptoms reported as adverse effects may in fact be manifestations of the underlying disease (iron and/or aluminum overload). As with all medicines, Desferal should be kept out of reach of children. Rapid intravenous injection of Desferal exceeding 15 mg/kg/h has produced flushing of the skin, urticaria, hypotension and shock
Vitamin C supplements should not be given to patients with cardiac failure because impairment of cardiac function may be experienced in patients with severe chronic iron overload receiving combined treatment of Desferal with high doses of vitamin C (more than 500 mg daily)
Pharmacology & Mechanism of Action
Deferoxamine works in treating iron toxicity by binding trivalent (ferric) iron (for which it has a strong affinity), forming ferrioxamine, a stable complex which is eliminated via the kidneys. 100 mg of deferoxamine is capable of binding approximately 8.5 mg of trivalent (ferric) iron. Deferoxamine works in treating aluminum toxicity by binding to tissue-bound aluminum to form aluminoxamine, a stable, water-soluble complex. The formation of aluminoxamine increases blood concentrations of aluminum, resulting in an increased concentration gradient between the blood and dialysate, boosting the removal of aluminum during dialysis. 100 mg of deferoxamine is capable of binding approximately 4.1 mg of aluminum.