What is the most important information I should know about deferoxamine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to deferoxamine, if you have
kidney
disease, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using deferoxamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have
liver disease, vision or hearing problems, asthma or other breathing disorder, heart disease, low
levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia), or a parathyroid disorder.
While you are using deferoxamine, get emergency medical help if you have any of
these
signs of an allergic reaction: hives; joint or muscle pain; fever;
headache; nausea or vomiting; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Long-term use of deferoxamine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child
using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.
If a child is using deferoxamine, a doctor should check the child's growth every 3 months.
Do not miss any scheduled visits to your child's doctor.
If you need to have any type of x-ray or CT scan using a dye that is injected into a vein,
you may need to temporarily stop using deferoxamine. Be sure the doctor knows ahead of time
that you are using this medication.
What is deferoxamine?
Deferoxamine binds to iron and removes it from the blood stream.
Deferoxamine is used to treat iron overload caused by blood transfusions in adults and
children at least 3 years old.
Deferoxamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication
guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before using deferoxamine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to deferoxamine, if you have kidney
disease, or if you are unable to urinate.
Before using deferoxamine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
-
liver disease;
-
vision or hearing problems;
-
asthma or other breathing disorder;
-
heart disease;
-
low levels of calcium in your blood (hypocalcemia); or
-
a parathyroid disorder.
If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to
use deferoxamine or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether deferoxamine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Long-term use of deferoxamine can slow a child's growth. Tell your doctor if the child
using this medication is not growing or gaining weight properly.