Proper Use
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or clinic. You may also be taught how to give your medicine at home. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin, into a muscle, or into a vein.
Deferoxamine may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you are receiving this medicine at home, make sure you clearly understand and carefully follow your doctor's instructions.
Use a new needle, unopened vial, or syringe each time you inject your medicine.
You might not use all of the medicine in each vial (glass container). Use each vial only one time. Do not save an open vial. If the medicine in the vial has changed color, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.
Do not take vitamin C supplements unless your doctor has told you to do so.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
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For injection dosage form:
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For acute iron toxicity:
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Adults, teenagers, and children 3 years of age and older—At first, 1000 milligrams (mg) per day injected into a muscle or vein. Your doctor may increase your dose by 500 mg every 4 hours for two doses. However, the total dose is usually not more than 6000 mg in 24 hours.
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Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
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For chronic iron toxicity:
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Adults, teenagers, and children 3 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 1000 to 2000 milligrams (mg) (20 to 40 mg per kg of body weight) per day, injected under the skin, over a period of 8 to 24 hours.
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Children younger than 3 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate. Keep from freezing.
Store the medicine that has been mixed at room temperature and use it within 3 hours. Throw away any mixed medicine that has not been used within this time.
Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024
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