iron infusion therapy
The Anaemia Drip
Iron infusion therapy is a medical treatment that replenishes the body's iron levels by delivering iron directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) drip. It is an effective solution for people who suffer from iron-deficiency anaemia when oral iron supplements fail to work, are poorly tolerated, or when faster iron replenishment is required..
At Leicester Ozone Clinic/Leicester Holistic GP we specialise in delivering high-quality iron infusion treatments in a comfortable, safe environment. As with all our infusions, our experienced GP will directly deliver and supervise your therapy following a thorough assessment. .
Ingredients
Ferric Carboxymaltose (prescription only medicine): 500 mg or 1000 mg i.v. in sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution
the process
Before booking: Iron infusion is a medical procedure and is subjected to the usual precautions, including suitability assessment. Please see "Booking Procedures" below.
Once we receive the information we will contact you to inform you about your suitability, the dose you need, any precautions or blood tests before the infusion as well as the total cost. Please note that iron deficiency must be confirmed by laboratory tests, we are happy to accept any recent tests you may have or we can arrange the tests for you at a small extra cost.
Dose Calculation: The individual iron need for repletion using Ferric Carboxymaltose is determined based on the patient's body weight and haemoglobin (Hb) level. Mosts people will require 500 - 1000 mg iron. If your iron need is higher than 1000 mg (or 20 mg iron/kg body weight), 2 doses may be required to replenish the total iron need at least 7 days apart.
During the Infusion: The iron infusion is performed and supervised in our clinic by our clinician, before we start the infusion, Dr Hamad who will ask you to sign a medical consent form explaining again the procedure, potential risks and benefits. He will then insert the catheter in your arm and prepare the infusion for you. You’ll be seated comfortably and the infusion will take between 30 minutes, depending on the dose.
After the infusion: We will observe you for adverse effects for at least 30 minutes following each iron administration. Most people can return to their normal activities immediately after an iron infusion. Many patients begin to notice improvements in their symptoms within a few days to a week after their iron infusion. Ideally a blood test need to be repeated 4 to 8 weeks after your infusion to monitor your response to treatment. You can arrange this yourself or we can arrange it for you at a small extra cost. In the event that you require further iron repletion, the iron need should be recalculated based on the new figures.
side effects
Iron infusions are generally considered safe, but as with any medical treatment, there are potential risks and side effects. Some people may experience:
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Minor side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, or muscle cramps. 2-3% may report feeling flushed or mild abdominal discomfort during the infusion. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve quickly when the infusion is discounted then restarted. A metallic taste in your mouth is also reported, this normally disappears within 15 minutes of you having the infusion..
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Leakage of iron at the administration site (i.e around the cannula) may lead to irritation of the skin and potentially long lasting brown discolouration at the site of administration. This is why we ensure that the cannula is sitting well within a vein. This may include a flush of saline drip before the iron infusion is commenced. In some cases, we may re-site the cannula to another location
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Allergic reactions are rare but can occur especially with the older iron formulations that our clinic does not use. In such cases, the infusion will be stopped immediately, and appropriate treatment will be administered in the clinic.
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Iron overload, particularly in individuals with certain genetic conditions or chronic diseases. This risk is greatly reduced by accurate calculation of the dose at the initial consultation and monitoring the iron level after the infusion as detailed above.
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Iron infusion can be given during pregnancy, however there are additional small risks in pregnancy. Foetal bradycardia (slow heart rate) may occur following administration of iron.. Animal data suggest that iron can cross the placental barrier and that its use during pregnancy may influence skeletal development in the foetus. For these reasons we opted not to provide infusions to pregnant ladies.
Unique features
Several types of iron preparations can be used for IV iron therapy, each with different characteristics in terms of how quickly they release iron into the bloodstream and how they are tolerated by the body. At our clinic we use Ferric Carboxymaltose as a standard. This is a newer type of prescription grade iron that allows for larger doses to be infused in a shorter amount of time with very low level of side effects compared to older preparations, such as iron dextran. The new preparations are far safer and so now in routine use in the NHS and worldwide with millions of administrations.
Bookings Procedures
Please copy and paste the items below and send the answers to us via email to contact@leicester-ozone.co.uk or to contact@leicester-holistic-gp.co.uk.
- Name:
- Address:
- Date of Birth (We regret we can only offer iron therapy to adults >18):
- Gender:
- If you are a female, are you pregnant? (We regret that we do not provide iron infusion in pregnancy):
- Your weight in kg:
- Has the underlying cause of your anaemia been assessed and that it is confirmed to be due to low iron?
- Has your doctor advised that you need an infusion of iron?
- Do you have any symptoms related to low iron level?
- Do you have your haemoglobin (Hb) blood test results? Please provide with dates or attach a copy with the email:
- Do you have your Ferritin test results? Please provide with dates or attach a copy with the email:
- Do you have your Folic acid, B12 test results? Please provide with dates or attach a copy with the email:
- Do you have any chronic health condition? Please provide details:
- Please list all the regular prescription medication, including oral iron if you take it:
- Are you allergic to any food or medication, including iron tablets or infusions?
- Do you have an allergic condition such as asthma, hay fever or eczema?
- Do you have an autoimmune condition such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLE etc?
As soon as we receive the information will will contact you to discuss suitability and ask for any additional information if needed to ensure that the treatment is appropriate for you and no underlying cause for the anaemia is missed. We will then give you potential appointment dates to choose from. If you prefer we can see you free of charge in a face to face appointment and plan the infusion if appropriate on the same day or on another day.
prices
- Free initial assessment (see above).
- 500 mg iron in a maximum volume of 100 ml saline over a minimum period of 6 minutes: £350/Drip.
- 1000 mg in a maximum volume of 250 ml saline over a minimum period of 15 minutes: £500/Drip.
If the total iron need is calculated to be higher than 1000mg, another appointment is needed after a minimum duration of 1 week. This is because the maximum dose of iron in any one infusion is 1000mg.