Side Effects of Injectafer: Ranging from Common and Mild to Serious Impact
In a nutshell, Injectafer is a brand-name medication used to treat iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adults and children aged 1 year and older. It's given as an IV infusion or a slow IV injection. After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it continues to track and review side effects, emphasizing the importance of sharing your experiences to make medications safer for everyone.
Injectafer, like any medication, can have side effects. Mild side effects reported in both adults and children include changes in sense of taste, constipation, headache, low blood pressure, vomiting, and flushed skin. More common side effects in adults also include nausea, high blood pressure, dizziness, injection site reactions, skin redness or other color changes, and hypophosphatemia (low level of phosphorus in the blood).
However, it's essential to be aware of the serious side effects. In children, these include infection in the digestive system, increased liver enzyme levels, decreased platelet levels, and decreased white blood cell levels. In adults, serious side effects include severe high blood pressure, severe hypophosphatemia, and severe allergic reactions. These reactions may require emergency treatment and can be life-threatening.
Hypophosphatemia, a condition where there is a low level of phosphorus in the blood, may be more likely to happen in people who have an increased risk for the condition, such as those with a vitamin D deficiency, hyperparathyroidism, or inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms of severe hypophosphatemia may include changes in mental status, numbness, seizures, and weakness. If you have symptoms of hypophosphatemia, talk with your doctor right away.
Injectafer may also cause skin discoloration, such as darkening at the site where an injection is given, which may be due to a type of skin reaction called extravasation. This discoloration can be long-lasting.
It's important to note that Injectafer, like Venofer (iron sucrose), is a brand-name prescription injection used to treat IDA in people with chronic kidney disease and may have similar side effects.
For more information about some of these side effects, you can refer to Injectafer's prescribing information. While Injectafer isn't likely to cause any long-term side effects, some people may experience severe hypophosphatemia or long-lasting skin discoloration at the injection site.
Lastly, it's crucial to remember that while side effects are possible, they are generally considered less common. Serious hypersensitivity reactions are very rare. Hypophosphatemia typically appears about two weeks after treatment and resolves within a few weeks. The occurrence of infections is possible but inconclusive, related to free iron potentiating bacterial growth, though newer formulations like Injectafer have low free iron concentrations to limit this risk.
Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalised advice and to discuss any concerns you may have about Injectafer or its side effects.
- The side effects of Injectafer, a medication used to treat iron deficiency anemia, can include, but are not limited to, changes in sense of taste, constipation, headache, low blood pressure, and flushed skin.
- In children, serious side effects of Injectafer may include infection in the digestive system, increased liver enzyme levels, decreased platelet levels, and decreased white blood cell levels, while adults may experience severe high blood pressure, severe hypophosphatemia, and serious allergic reactions.
- It's important to note that for those with chronic kidney diseases, Injectafer and Venofer may have similar side effects, and long-lasting skin discoloration at the injection site is a possibility with both medications.
