Symptoms can include tiredness and lack of energy, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations), pale skin. Some people may not have any symptoms and it may be that your anaemia was diagnosed following a blood test.

Oral iron is used initially to treat iron deficiency anaemia. Sometimes this does not produce enough of an improvement, or it may be that your doctor needs to replenish your iron quickly. Intravenous iron is used when oral iron has been tried or if it is not suitable and it helps to reduce the use of blood transfusions.

Intravenous iron is an extremely safe and effective therapy. Some of the side effects that have been reported are:

1. Staining – If your cannula was to displace from your vein during treatment the drug could be deposited in your skin rather than into your bloodstream. This could result in a brown stain to the skin. If you notice pain at the injection site during your treatment, please inform the nurse caring for you immediately. This will minimise any such risk.
2. Change in total body skin colour – This is an extremely rare occurrence. It has been reported that some patients noted their skin to become darker (like a suntan) for a period of weeks after treatment with intravenous iron. This was not permanent and resolved after several weeks.
3. Allergy – historically intravenous iron preparations carried a risk of allergy (ranging from a mild reaction like itchy skin through to anaphylaxis that could be life threatening). With today’s modern iron preparation this is uncommon (1 in a 100 to 1 in a 1000 risk). Please inform the nurse caring for you immediately if you experience any of the following during your treatment (swelling of lips, tongue, face or throat, shortness of breath, itching, a feeling of all over body heat, heart racing heat or faint like symptoms)
4. Delayed reaction – Although uncommon, some patients may experience muscle or joint pains and fever in the days after treatment. This usually lasts two to four days and can be managed with simple painkillers like paracetamol Iron infusions are commonly used after the first trimester in pregnancy. It is important that you also read the patient information leaflet for the product.

Your anaemia/ low blood count is expected to improve.

If you are taking oral iron, you should stop this the day before you come into our clinic for your Iron Infusion.

Within our treatment room at our Wilmslow clinic.

No.

You may rarely experience muscle or joint pains; these can be managed with simple painkillers such as paracetamol.

You will need to come into clinic for a short period of time before the infusion, for the duration of the infusion and you will then be asked to stay for further monitoring for about 30 minutes after the infusion.

Simple painkillers for any joint pain can be taken when you go home following your completed monitoring period at our clinic.

It is not anticipated that your iron infusion will affect your ability to undertake your usual activities.

It is not anticipated that your iron infusion will affect your ability to undertake your usual activities.

Although you consent for this treatment, you may at any time after that withdraw such consent. Please discuss this with your medical team.