Iron overload, Aluminum overload, Iron poisoning Severe renal disease or anuria.

Administration: Intramuscular: Add 2 ml of sterile water for Inj to each 500 mg vial or 8 ml of sterile water for Inj to each 2 g vial. Intravenous: Add 5 ml of sterile water for Inj to each 500 mg vial or 20 ml of sterile water for Inj to each 2 g vial. This results in a 10% solution. This can then be added to saline, glucose or Ringer's lactate solution to be used as an infusion. Adult Dose: Intravenous Aluminum overload Adult: Patients with end-stage renal failure, hemodialysis or hemofiltration patients: 5 mg/kg once a wk by slow infusion during the last hr of the dialysis session or 5 hr before the session in more severe cases. For patients on peritoneal dialysis: 5 mg/kg once a wk (via slow IV infusion/SC/IM/intraperitoneally) should be given before the final exchange of the day. Chronic iron overload Adult: Initially, 500 mg via IV/SC infusion (usually given over 8-12 hr or in some patients, 24 hr). Usual effective dose range: 20-60 mg/kg daily. Admin 3-7 times a wk depending on extent of iron overload. If given via IM inj, initial dose: 0.5-1 g daily as 1 or 2 injections; maintenance dose is determined by response. Parenteral Acute iron poisoning Adult: Initial dose: 15 mg/kg/hr by slow IV infusion, reducing after 4-6 hr so that the total dose dose not exceed 80 mg/kg in 24 hr. It can also be given via IM Inj as a single dose of 2 g. Child Dose: Parenteral Acute iron poisoning Child: Given via IM injection: 1 g as a single dose. Renal Dose: Use with caution.

Increased risk of neurological symptoms when used concurrently with phenothiazines. Ascorbic acid improves Fe excretion but it should not be given during the 1st mth of starting deferoxamine treatment as it may worsen Fe toxicity. May affect imaging results if given together with gallium-67.

Severe renal disease or anuria.

Rapid IV injection: Flushing, urticaria, hypotension and shock. SC or IM injection: Local pain. Prolonged SC: Pruritus, erythema and swelling. GI disorders, dysuria, fever, allergic skin rashes, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, convulsions and leg cramps; visual disturbances, cataract formation, hearing loss; may retard growth in very young childn. Pulmonary syndrome with high IV doses.

Precaution: Impaired renal function; may color the urine reddish-brown, exacerbate aluminum-related encephalopathy and precipitate seizure (prophylactic with antiepileptic if at risk); susceptible to infection; monitor urinary excretion of iron, ophthalmological, audiological and cardiac function examinations; pregnancy.

Deferoxamine has a high affinity for ferric iron and forms chelates or stable water-soluble complexes with iron and other trivalent metal ions eg, aluminum. It removes free and bound iron from haemosiderin and ferritin, increasing the excretion of iron in urine and bile.