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Deferoxamine
Pronunciation
U.S. Brand Names
Generic Available
Synonyms
Pharmacological Index
Use
Pregnancy Risk Factor
Contraindications
Warnings/Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Overdosage/Toxicology
Drug Interactions
Stability
Mechanism of Action
Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics
Usual Dosage
Monitoring Parameters
Mental Health: Effects on Mental Status
Mental Health: Effects on Psychiatric Treatment
Dental Health: Local Anesthetic/Vasoconstrictor Precautions
Dental Health: Effects on Dental Treatment
Patient Information
Nursing Implications
Dosage Forms
References

Pronunciation
(de fer OKS a meen)

U.S. Brand Names
Desferal® Mesylate

Generic Available

No


Synonyms
Deferoxamine Mesylate

Pharmacological Index

Antidote


Use

Acute iron intoxication when serum iron is >450-500 mcg/dL or when clinical signs of significant iron toxicity exist; chronic iron overload secondary to multiple transfusions; diagnostic test for iron overload; iron overload secondary to congenital anemias; hemochromatosis; removal of corneal rust rings following surgical removal of foreign bodies


Pregnancy Risk Factor

C


Contraindications

Patients with anuria, primary hemochromatosis


Warnings/Precautions

Use with caution in patients with severe renal disease, pyelonephritis; may increase susceptibility to Yersinia enterocolitica


Adverse Reactions

1% to 10%: Local: Pain and induration at injection site

<1%: Flushing, hypotension (especially with rapid injection), tachycardia, shock, edema, fever, erythema, urticaria, pruritus, rash, cutaneous wheal formation, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, leg cramps, blurred vision, cataracts, hearing loss, anaphylaxis


Overdosage/Toxicology

Symptoms of overdose include hypotension, blurring of vision, diarrhea, leg cramps, tachycardia

Treatment is symptomatic and supportive


Drug Interactions

Can cause loss of consciousness when administered with prochlorperazine


Stability

Protect from light; reconstituted solutions (sterile water) may be stored at room temperature for 7 days


Mechanism of Action

Complexes with trivalent ions (ferric ions) to form ferrioxamine, which are removed by the kidneys


Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics

Absorption: Oral: <15%

Metabolism: In the liver to ferrioxamine

Half-life: Parent drug: 6.1 hours; Ferrioxamine: 5.8 hours

Elimination: Renal excretion of the metabolite and unchanged drug


Usual Dosage

Children and Adults:

Acute iron toxicity: I.V. route is used when severe toxicity is evidenced by systemic symptoms (coma, shock, metabolic acidosis, or severe gastrointestinal bleeding) or potentially severe intoxications (serum iron level >500 mg/dL). When severe symptoms are not present, the I.M. route may be preferred; however, the use of deferoxamine in situations where the serum iron concentration is <500 mg/dL or when severe toxicity is not evident is a subject of some clinical debate.

Dose: 15 mg/kg/hour (although rates up to 40-50 mg/kg/hour have been given in patients with massive iron intoxication); maximum recommended dose: 6 g/day (however, doses as high as 16-37 g have been administered)

Children:

Chronic iron overload: S.C.: 20-40 mg/kg/day over 8-12 hours (via a portable, controlled infusion device)

Aluminum-induced bone disease: 20-40 mg/kg every hemodialysis treatment, frequency dependent on clinical status of the patient

Adults: Chronic iron overload:

I.V.: 2 g after each unit of blood infusion at 15 mg/kg/hour

S.C.: 1-2 g every day over 8-24 hours

Dosing adjustment in renal impairment: Clcr <10 mL/minute: Administer 50% of dose

Has been used investigationally as a single 40 mg/kg I.V. dose over 2 hours, to promote mobilization of aluminum from tissue stores as an aid in the diagnosis of aluminum-associated osteodystrophy


Monitoring Parameters

Serum iron, total iron binding capacity; ophthalmologic exam and audiometry with chronic therapy


Mental Health: Effects on Mental Status

None reported


Mental Health: Effects on Psychiatric Treatment

Loss of consciousness has been reported with concurrent use of prochlorperazine


Dental Health: Local Anesthetic/Vasoconstrictor Precautions

No information available to require special precautions


Dental Health: Effects on Dental Treatment

No effects or complications reported


Patient Information

I.V.: Instructions depend on patient condition. You will be monitored closely for effects of this medication and frequent blood or urine tests may be necessary. Report chest pain, rapid heartbeat, headache, pain, swelling, or irritation at infusion site; skin rash; changes or loss of hearing or vision; or acute abdominal or leg cramps. Pregnancy/breast-feeding precautions: Inform prescriber if you are or intend to be pregnant. Do not breast-feed.


Nursing Implications

Iron chelate colors urine salmon pink


Dosage Forms

Powder for injection, as mesylate: 500 mg


References

Allain P, Mauras Y, Chaleil D, et al, "Pharmacokinetics and Renal Elimination of Desferrioxamine and Ferrioxamine in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Haemochromatosis," Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1987, 24(2):207-12.

Bentur Y, McGuigan M, and Koren G, "Deferoxamine (Desferrioxamine): New Toxicities for an Old Drug," Drug Saf, 1991, 6(1):37-46.

Cheney K, Gumbiner C, Benson B, et al, "Survival After a Severe Iron Poisoning Treated With Intermittent Infusions of Deferoxamine," J Toxicol Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(1):61-6.

Cohen AR, Mizanin J, and Schwartz E, "Rapid Removal of Excessive Iron With Daily, High-Dose Intravenous Chelation Therapy," J Pediatr, 1989, 115(1):151-5.

Douglas D and Smilkstein M, "Deferoxamine-Iron Induced Pulmonary Injury and N-Acetylcysteine," Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(5):495.

Fouad AA, Eldin NAS, and Eweda MH, "Protective Effects of Desferrioxamine on Cadmium Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats," Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(5):539-40.

Freedman MH, Olivieri N, Benson L, et al, "Clinical Studies on Iron Chelation in Patients With Thalassemia Major," Haematologica, 1990, 75(Suppl 5):74-83.

Giardina PJ, Grady RW, Ehlers KH, et al, "Current Therapy of Cooley's Anemia: A Decade of Experience With Subcutaneous Desferrioxamine," Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1990, 612:275-85.

Gomez HF, McClafferty H, Flory D, et al, "Prevention of GI Iron Absorption by an Orally Administered Deferoxamine/Charcoal Mixture," Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(5):556.

Hershko C, Konijn AM, and Link G, "Iron Chelators for Thalassaemia," Br J Haematol, 1998, 101(3):399-406.

Jackson TW, Ling LJ, and Washington V, "The Effect of Oral Deferoxamine on Iron Absorption in Humans," J Toxicol Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(4):325-9.

Kirking MH, "Treatment of Chronic Iron Overload," Clin Pharm, 1991, 10(10):775-83.

Krishnan K, Trobe JD, and Adams PT, "Myasthenia Gravis Following Iron Chelation Therapy With Intravenous Desferrioxamine," Eur J Haematol, 1995, 55(2):138-9.

Metwalley HE and Melies AE, "Protective Effects of Desferroxamine on Cadmium Induced Liver and Kidney Toxicity in Rats," Clin Toxicol, 1995, 33(5):541.

Pippard MJ, "Iron Metabolism and Iron Chelation in the Thalassemia Disorders," Haematologica, 1990, 75(Suppl 5):66-71.

Shannon M, "Desferrioxamine in Acute Iron Poisoning," Lancet, 1992, 339(8809):1601.

Voest EE, Vreugdenhil G, and Marx JJ, "Iron-Chelating Agents in Noniron Overload Conditions," Ann Intern Med, 1994, 120(6):490-9.

Winship KA, "Toxicity of Aluminum: A Historical Review, Part 2," Adverse Drug React Toxicol Rev, 1993, 12(3):177-211.

Yatscoff RW, Wayne EA, and Tenenbein M, "An Objective Criterion for the Cessation of Deferoxamine Therapy in the Acutely Iron Poisoned Patient," J Toxicol Clin Toxicol, 1991, 29(1):1-10.


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