Adults who cannot tolerate or could not successfully be treated with iron supplements taken orally are treated for iron deficiency anemia (a lower than normal number of red blood cells due to insufficient iron) with ferric carboxymaltose injection. In individuals without dialysis who have chronic renal disease (kidney damage that could get worse over time and lead to the kidneys failing), this medicine is also used to treat iron deficiency anemia. The pharmaceutical ferric carboxymaltose injection belongs to the group of drugs known as iron replacement products. By replenishing iron reserves, it enables the body to produce more red blood cells.

A doctor or nurse can administer ferric carboxymaltose injection intravenously (into a vein) in a doctor’s office or hospital outpatient clinic. It comes as a solution (liquid). It is typically administered in a total of 2 doses, separated by at least 7 days. Your doctor might reorder this medication if your iron levels drop after you finish your treatment.

The medicine ferric carboxymaltose injection may result in severe or fatal side effects both during and immediately following administration. Each time you receive an injection of ferric carboxymaltose, as well as for at least 30 minutes afterward, your doctor will keep a close eye on you. Additionally, during this time, your doctor will frequently check your blood pressure. Any of the following symptoms during or following your injection should be reported to your doctor: Inability to breathe or swallow, hoarseness, swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes, hives, rash, itching, fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness, flushing of the face, nausea, cold, clammy skin, quick, weak pulse, chest discomfort, or loss of consciousness are all symptoms of asthma. Your doctor will promptly stop your infusion and administer emergency medical care if you have a severe response.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before receiving ferric carboxymaltose injection,

• If you have any allergies, including to ferric carboxymaltose injection, ferumoxytol (Feraheme), iron dextran (Dexferrum, Infed), iron sucrose (Venofer), sodium ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit), other medications, or any of the substances in ferric carboxymaltose injection, notify your doctor right away. Request an ingredient list from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Include any of the following: valproic acid, ifosfamide (Ifex), and tenofovir (Viread). Additionally, let your doctor know if you take oral iron supplements. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you are unable to consume a nutritious diet or have low phosphate levels in your blood, let your doctor know. A vitamin D deficit, high blood pressure, parathyroid or liver illness, gastrointestinal disorders that prevent you from absorbing certain vitamins, and high blood pressure should all be disclosed to your doctor.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you conceive while taking an injection of ferric carboxymaltose. While you are receiving an injection of ferric carboxymaltose, keep an eye on the breastfed baby for signs of diarrhea or constipation. In case the breastfed infant exhibits any of these signs, call your doctor right away.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Call your doctor as soon as you can if you are going to be late for a ferric carboxymaltose injection appointment.

Injections of ferric carboxymaltose may have adverse effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Changes in preference
• Headache
• Aches or bruises where the injection site for the drug was
• Brown skin darkening that may stay a long time in the location where the medication was injected

Injections of ferric carboxymaltose may result in additional adverse effects. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Joint issues
• Having trouble walking
• Muscular tremor
• Bone ache

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to the injection of ferric carboxymaltose, your doctor will request a number of lab tests.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are receiving an injection of ferric carboxymaltose prior to any laboratory test.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.