Deferoxamine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Desferal, desferrioxamine
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For deferoxamine, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to deferoxamine. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Deferoxamine has not been shown to cause birth defects
or other problems in humans. However, in animal studies this medicine caused
birth defects when given in doses just above the recommended human dose. In
general, deferoxamine is not recommended for women who may become pregnant
or for use during early pregnancy, unless the woman's life is in danger from
too much iron.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether deferoxamine passes into
breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts,
many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking
this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children - Deferoxamine is not used for long-term treatment
of children up to 3 years of age. Also, younger patients are more likely to
develop hearing and vision problems with the use of deferoxamine in high doses
for a long time.
Older adults - The combination of deferoxamine and vitamin C should
be used with caution in older patients, since this combination may be more
likely to cause heart problems in these patients than in younger adults.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving
deferoxamine, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking the following:
-
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) - Use with deferoxamine may be harmful
to body tissues, especially in the elderly
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of deferoxamine. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Kidney disease - Patients with kidney disease may be more likely
to have side effects
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