Iron Infusion Treatment

Many people with iron deficiency anaemia will only have a few signs or symptoms. The severity of these symptoms largely depends on how quickly your anaemia develops. You may only notice few symptoms or they may develop gradually if your anaemia is caused by a long-term problem, such as a stomach ulcer.

The most common symptoms include:

• tiredness and lethargy (lack of energy)
• weakness
• shortness of breath
• heart palpitations (noticeable heartbeat)
• a pale complexion

Less common symptoms include:

• headache
• tinnitus (hearing sounds coming from inside the body, rather than from an outside source)
• an altered sense of taste
• frequent infections
• feeling itchy, cold hands and feet
• a sore or abnormally smooth tongue
• hair loss
• painful ulcers (open sores) on the corners of your mouth
• spoon-shaped and brittle nails

Iron deficiency is very common, especially among women and in people who have a diet that is low in iron. The following groups of people are at highest risk for iron-deficiency anaemia:

• Women who menstruate, particularly if menstrual periods are heavy
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those who have recently given birth
• People who have undergone major surgery
• People with gastrointestinal diseases such as Coeliac Disease, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s Disease
• People with peptic ulcer disease
• People who have undergone bariatric procedures, especially gastric bypass operations
• Vegetarians, vegans, and other people whose diets do not include iron-rich foods (Iron from vegetables, even those that are iron-rich, is not absorbed as well as iron from meat, poultry, and fish.)
• Children who drink more than 500mL to 700mL a day of cow’s milk (cow’s milk not only contains little iron, but it can also decrease absorption of iron and irritate the intestinal lining causing chronic blood loss).

Other less common causes of iron deficiency include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause bleeding in the stomach.Ibuprofen and aspirin are two commonly prescribed NSAIDs. If your GP thinks your medication is causing gastrointestinal bleeding, they can prescribe a less harmful medicine. Do not stop taking a medicine you have been prescribed unless your GP advises you to.
• Stomach ulcers. The acid in your stomach (which helps your body to digest food) can sometimes eat into your stomach lining. When this happens, the acid forms an ulcer (an open sore). This is also known as astomach ulcer (or a peptic ulcer). Stomach ulcers can cause your stomach lining to bleed, which leads to anaemia.
• Gastrointestinal cancer. In a few cases, gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by cancer, usually of the stomach or colon. When diagnosing the cause of anaemia, your GP will check for possible signs of cancer. If your GP suspects cancer, you will be referred to a Gastroenterologist (a specialist in treating digestive conditions) for a more thorough examination. This means that if cancer is found, it can be treated as quickly as possible. Read more about bowel cancer.
• Gastrointestinal bleeding can also be caused by a condition called angiodysplasia. This is due to abnormal blood vessels in the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause bleeding.
• Chronic kidney disease. Many people with chronic kidney disease develop iron deficiency anaemia. Most people with chronic kidney disease who have iron deficiency anaemia will be given iron supplement injections, although daily tablets may be tried first.

If you develop signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anaemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anaemia isn’t something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis rather than taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous because excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications.

Iron-deficiency and anaemia are diagnosed by a simple blood test. It is best to discuss with your doctor about your symptoms, and ask if your doctor would recommend a specific blood test that is widely available. The results in general will become available within a short few days. Make sure you see your doctor for the results after having blood tests.

Even if the cause of the iron deficiency can be identified and treated, it is still usually necessary to take medicinal iron (more iron than a multivitamin can provide) until the deficiency is corrected and the body’s iron stores are replenished. In some cases, if the cause cannot be identified or corrected, the patient may have to receive supplemental iron on an ongoing basis.

There are several ways to increase iron intake:

Intravenous Iron (infusion).

Since the approval of a new iron formulation called FerInject to be covered by Medicare in eligible patients, more and more people have chosen to have iron given intravenously. Unlike previous formulations that must be diluted and given slowly over 6-7 hours, the new preparation FerInject can be given over 15 minutes. There is no sedation involved and you can drive back to work after the infusion. The advantages of an iron infusion include the immediate boost in iron stores and the avoidance of common side effect of oral iron (constipation). Liquid iron can be expensive if taken for extended period of time (often months).

How is Iron Infusion given? After being admitted by nursing staff and baseline observations have been taken (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation), a doctor will insert a cannula into a small vein in the arm or back of the hand. Your nurse will then connect a medication line to the cannula containing 20mL of Iron solution (corresponding to 1g of Iron). The infusion will commence once you are comfortable and take approximately 15 minutes. Once the infusion is complete, the medication line will be flushed with saline, disconnected, and removed just prior to discharge. Repeat observations will be taken on completion of the infusion and you will be discharged shortly after, when deemed safe by your nurse.

Possible side effects. A major consideration is to ensure that the person who inserts the intravenous cannula is a very experienced at it. At our Day Surgery facilities, all the cannulations are inserted by the Specialists or Anaesthetists, as this drastically reduces the risk of iron leaking from the vein to the surrounding tissue, which can leave a dark stain on your skin for a number of months. Other side effects are mild, and occur in 1 to 10% of patients, but tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following signs: rash (eg.hives), itching, wheezing and /or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or body.

Following your Iron infusion you may:

• Eat and drink your normal diet
• Drive a vehicle
• Return to work

What is the cost of the Iron Infusion. The cost of an Iron Infusion is $250 (please check with our staff to ensure this fee is still correct at the time of making a booking). This covers the cost of the medicine, admission to one of our hospitals to receive the infusion, the doctor’s fees and all associated fees. If you have private health insurance, you may be able to obtain a full rebate depending on the level of your cover. For more information on the rebate or to make an appointment please contact one of our centres, and one of our friendly receptionists will be able to assist you: Rosebud Endoscopy .

Iron Rich Foods

Many foods contain iron, including:

• Meat: beef, pork, or lamb, especially organ meats such as liver
• Poultry: chicken, turkey, and duck, especially liver and dark meat
• Fish, especially shellfish, sardines, and anchovies
• Leafy green members of the cabbage family including broccoli, kale, turnip greens
• Legumes, peas
• Iron-enriched pastas, grains, rice, and cereals

Medicinal Iron

The amount of iron needed to treat patients with iron deficiency is higher than the amount found in most daily multivitamin supplements. The amount of iron prescribed by your doctor will be in milligrams (mg) of elemental iron. Most people with iron deficiency need 150-200 mg per day of elemental iron (2 to 5 mg of iron per kilogram of body weight per day). Possible side effects of iron tablets include abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and dark stools. It will also take months for the iron stores to be

Contact one of our friendly receptionists on (Rosebud Endoscopy) for further information. You can also make an appointment to see one of our Gastroenterologists to discuss further if you wish. You can also download and print the Iron Infusion Referral Form and to take to your family doctor to maximise rebates from your Health Funds / Medicare.