Iron Infusions
Why iron matters, who an infusion suits, and why an appointment with a doctor comes first.
Onsite treatment
Iron infusions at the clinic
Iron can be given as an infusion here at the practice rather than in hospital. The preparation we use is Ferinject, and the infusion itself takes about an hour.
Background
Why is iron important?
Iron is essential for the body to make haemoglobin (Hb), a pigment that makes red blood cells red and carries oxygen from the lungs to the body organs and working muscles.
When the amount of iron in the body gets too low, the haemoglobin level can fall below normal. This is known as ‘iron deficiency anaemia’.
If your haemoglobin or iron levels are low, you can feel fatigued and less able to carry out your everyday activities.
Treatment options
Who might need an iron infusion
The usual way to treat iron deficiency and the anaemia that comes with it is iron by mouth, as a tablet or a liquid. Some people get side effects from oral iron, or cannot absorb enough of it, and need an alternative such as iron given into a vein.
An iron infusion might be needed if you are:
- Unable to tolerate oral iron preparations,
- Unable to absorb iron through the gut
- Unable to absorb enough iron to compensate for the amount of blood that the body is losing,
- In need of a rapid increase in iron levels to avoid complications or a blood transfusion (eg. before major surgery)
Getting started
Iron Infusions at Hinterland Medical Centre
An initial appointment comes first
An appointment with one of the doctors here who performs this procedure comes first. They take a full history and go through whether an infusion is suitable for you, what it involves, and the benefits and risks of Ferinject.
If you think you may benefit from an iron infusion, please book an appointment with one of our doctors to discuss.
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