Desferal 500 mg Injection belongs to the group of medicines called ‘chelating agents’ used to remove excess iron from the body in anemia or chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions in patients 2 years of age and older. It is also used with other medicines to treat acute iron poisoning, especially in small children. Besides this, Desferal 500 mg Injection may also be used for high aluminum levels in dialysis patients and people with aluminum poisoning.

Desferal 500 mg Injection contains Deferoxamine an iron-binding agent that belongs to a class of medicines called heavy metal antagonists. It works by binding trivalent (ferric) iron which has a strong affinity, forming ferrioxamine, a stable complex that prevents the iron from entering into further chemical reactions and also is eliminated from the body. It helps the kidneys and gallbladder get rid of the extra iron.

Desferal 500 mg Injection will be administered by a healthcare professional; do not self-administer. In some cases, you may experience certain common side-effects such as flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck, and trunk), skin rash, hypotension (decreased pressure), change in color of urine to red, headache, upset stomach or throwing up, diarrhea, muscle or joint pain, irritation where the injection is given. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.

To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Desferal 500 mg Injection for as long as your doctor has prescribed. To avoid recurring symptoms, do not stop it midway. Do not take Desferal 500 mg Injection if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy and breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. Your doctor may advise you to undergo regular blood tests, kidney and liver tests, eye examinations, and hearing tests to monitor your condition. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Desferal 500 mg Injection as it could lead to increased drowsiness and dizziness. Inform your doctor about your health condition and medicines to rule out any unpleasant side effects.

Desferal 500 mg Injection contains Deferoxamine an iron-chelating agent used for treating acute iron intoxication or emergency cases of iron poisoning. This medication can also be used to help get rid of iron in patients with high iron levels due to many blood transfusions. Desferal 500 mg Injection works by forming a stable complex that prevents the iron and aluminum ions from entering into further chemical reactions and helping the kidneys and gallbladder eliminate the extra iron. This reduces the risk of organ damage.

• Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk)
• Skin rash
• Hypotension (decreased blood pressure) 
• Change in color of urine to red
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Upset stomach or throwing up
• Diarrhea
• Muscle or joint pain
• Irritation where the injection is given

Do not take Desferal 500 mg Injection if you are allergic to Deferoxamine or any of the other ingredients in it. Inform your doctor if you have severe kidney problems and are on dialysis, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and any fungal infection. Do not take Desferal 500 mg Injection if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant and breastfeeding unless prescribed by a doctor. Desferal 500 mg Injection may affect growth in children (especially those younger than 3 years of age) and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checkups while taking Desferal 500 mg Injection. Your doctor may recommend to you regular eye tests and hearing tests. Desferal 500 mg Injection can affect your vision and your hearing.  Older adults (65 or older) may be more sensitive to the side effects of Desferal 500 mg Injection, especially vision/hearing problems. Talk with your doctor before taking multivitamins, natural products, and diet aids. If you are using Desferal 500 mg Injection to treat high iron levels, your doctor may advise you to take vitamin C (ascorbic acid) after using this medication for at least 1 month. Taking vitamin C will help replace vitamin C loss due to high iron levels and help the medication work to get rid of the iron. If you have a heart problem (heart failure), Desferal 500 mg Injection should not be used with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) because severe interactions may occur. This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Inform your doctor and lab staff that you take Desferal 500 mg Injection. If you are using Desferal 500 mg Injection for aluminum poisoning, inform your doctor if you have seizures (fits), hypocalcemia (decreased calcium level in blood), and hyperparathyroidism.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Desferal 500 mg Injection interacts with a medicine used to treat anxiety or schizophrenia (prochlorperazine), a medicine used to treat anemia (erythropoietin), antacids (aluminum hydroxide, aluminum carbonate), a medicine used to treat asthma (theophylline), antiviral (tenofovir, cidofovir), a contrast agent used during X-rays (diatrizoate), a medication used for the treatment of nerve damage (inotersen), radiocontrast agent (metrizamide), a diagnostic contrast agent (ioxilan), a medication used to treat epilepsy (vigabatrin).

Drug-Food Interactions: No interaction found.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Desferal 500 mg Injection should not be used in people with renal dysfunction, auditory dysfunction, hepatic impairment, ocular dysfunction, or respiratory distress syndrome.

• PROCHLORPERAZINE
• ERYTHROPOIETIN
• ALUMINIUM HYDROXIDE
• THEOPHYLLINE
• TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL
• CIDOFOVIR
• VIGABATRIN
• INOTERSEN
• DIATRIZOATE
• IOXILAN
• METRIZAMIDE

• It is essential to follow a specific diet plan created by your nutritionist to control health condition.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

• Your doctor may advise you to take blood and urine tests while using Desferal 500 mg Injection to examine your health condition and ensure that this medicine treats your condition.
• Eye examination and hearing tests are recommended while using Desferal 500 mg Injection to affect your vision and hearing.
• X-rays or scan results may be affected by treatment with Desferal 500 mg Injection. Inform your doctor that you are being treated with Desferal 500 mg Injection if an X-ray or scan is suggested.

Iron intoxication: Iron poisoning occurs from the ingestion of excess iron or increases iron levels in the blood that results in acute toxicity. Excessive iron can be damaging to the gastrointestinal system.  Iron is an essential mineral for blood production. Symptoms of iron toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Iron can also accumulate in the organs and cause fatal damage to the liver or brain.