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Health

Ferrolec Health

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Ferrolek Health is an anti-anemic drug.

Indications Ferrolec Health

It is used for the treatment of iron deficiency when it is impossible or ineffective to use oral iron medications.

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Release form

The drug is released in the form of an injection liquid, inside 2 ml ampoules, 3, 5 or 10 ampoules inside a blister.

Pharmacodynamics

Iron is an important component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, as well as some other enzymes. Its main function is the movement of oxygen molecules and electrons, as well as oxidative metabolism during reproduction and tissue growth. As a component of enzymes, iron catalyzes hydroxylation, oxidation, and other metabolic processes important for life.

Iron deficiency develops as a result of insufficient intake of this element with food, a disorder of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, or due to an increased need for it (during pregnancy or during periods of increased growth) and subsequent blood loss.

Iron is transported within the blood plasma by β-globulin transferrin, synthesized within the liver. All transferrin molecules are synthesized with 2 iron atoms. Iron in combination with transferrin is transported into the body cells, where its reversible synthesis with ferritin occurs. This component is necessary for the processes of binding myoglobin, hemoglobin and individual enzymes.

With parenteral use of iron dextran, hemoglobin levels increase more rapidly than with oral administration of iron salts (although the pharmacokinetics of iron incorporation does not depend on the route of administration).

The iron dextran complex is quite large in size, making it impossible to excrete via the kidneys. This complex is stable, so under physiological conditions iron is not released in the form of ions.

Pharmacokinetics

After the element is injected, it is absorbed mainly through the lymph, diffusing into the blood after 3 days. There is no information on bioavailability, but there is evidence that a fairly large part of the drug complex is not absorbed from muscle tissue for a long time. The t½ of the substance is 3-4 days.

The macromolecular complex of dextran penetrates the reticuloendothelial system and disintegrates there, forming dextran with an iron-containing element. Iron is then synthesized with hemosiderin or ferritin, and also, in smaller amounts, with transferrin, and then used to bind hemoglobin. The dextran component is metabolized or excreted. The amount of iron excreted is insignificant.

Dosing and administration

The drug is administered exclusively intramuscularly. Before using the first dose, the patient's tolerance to the drug must be determined - an adult is given a test dose equal to ¼-½ of the ampoule volume (about 25-50 mg of iron), and a child - 0.5 of the daily dose. If there are no negative signs within 15 minutes from the moment of administration of the substance, the remainder of the initial daily dose of the drug is allowed to be administered.

Often the solution is injected every other day – deep into the area of the outer upper quadrant of the gluteal muscle (it is necessary to change the injection sites – into the left and right buttock alternately).

To avoid staining the epidermis and causing pain, it is necessary to perform the injection according to the rules - use a needle that is 50-60 mm long (for an adult) or 32 mm (for a child). Before performing the injection, the epidermis must be disinfected, and the subcutaneous tissue must be pulled down slightly (approximately 2 cm) to reduce the spread of the substance. After performing the injection, you must press on the injection area for the next 60 seconds.

The child needs to be administered 0.06 ml/kg of the substance per day (3 mg/kg of iron per day).

For adults or elderly people, 1-2 ampoules of the drug per day (0.1-0.2 g of iron) are required.

Maximum permissible daily doses: for a child – 0.14 ml/kg (equivalent to 7 mg/kg of iron); for an adult – 4 ml (equivalent to 0.2 g or 2 ampoules) of the drug.

Use Ferrolec Health during pregnancy

It is prohibited to use Ferrolek-Zdorovye in the 1st trimester. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, it is used only in situations where the probable benefit to the woman is more expected than the risk of complications in the fetus.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications:

  • the presence of severe sensitivity to the components of the drug;
  • excess iron in the body (for example, with hemosiderosis or hemochromatosis);
  • disorder of iron incorporation into hemoglobin (for example, in anemia caused by lead intoxication, thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia);
  • anemia that is not caused by iron deficiency (for example, megaloblastic or hemolytic anemia);
  • severe hemostasis disorders (hemophilia);
  • disorders of erythropoiesis processes;
  • bone marrow hypoplasia;
  • epidermal porphyria.

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Side effects Ferrolec Health

Adverse effects mainly depend on the dose size of the drug. Acute anaphylactoid symptoms in severe form often develop within a few minutes after taking the drug and manifest themselves in the form of difficulty in breathing or collapse in the cardiovascular system (there are also reports of fatal outcomes). If symptoms of anaphylactoid reactions appear, the injection of the drug should be stopped immediately. The following effects are of a delayed type (can develop in the period from several hours to 4 days after the drug is taken) and can be severe. Such manifestations can last for 2-4 days, disappearing spontaneously or as a result of taking standard analgesics. In the rheumatoid form of arthritis, pain in the joints may increase. Side effects include:

  • dysfunction of the cardiovascular system: tachycardia, palpitations, arrhythmia, and in addition discomfort (feeling of compression) and pain in the sternum, as well as bradycardia in the embryo;
  • disorders in the functioning of the lymph and hematopoietic organs: lymphadenopathy, as well as hemolysis or leukocytosis;
  • problems with the nervous system: numbness, fainting, convulsions, tremors, blurred vision, as well as a feeling of excitement, dizziness, paresthesia, headaches and transient taste disturbances (for example, the appearance of a metallic taste);
  • lesions of the auditory organs and labyrinth: short-term deafness;
  • respiratory disorders: dyspnea, bronchial spasms, and respiratory arrest;
  • digestive disorders: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and nausea;
  • lesions of the subcutaneous layer or epidermis: urticaria, erythema, itching, purpura, exanthema, and in addition to this, rashes, Quincke's edema and hyperhidrosis;
  • manifestations in the musculoskeletal system: myalgia, muscle cramps, back pain, arthritis and arthralgia;
  • vascular dysfunction: collapse, hot flashes, decrease or increase in blood pressure;
  • systemic disorders and local manifestations: severe fatigue, feeling of malaise or heat, fever, asthenia, peripheral edema, chills, pallor, chromaturia, and in addition pain or brown discoloration of the epidermis (in the injection area). There are data on such local symptoms as bulge, burning and inflammation in the injection area or near it, and in addition bleeding, phlebitis, tissue necrosis or atrophy and abscess formation;
  • immune damage: anaphylactoid symptoms, sometimes in a severe acute stage (sudden difficulty in breathing or collapse in the cardiovascular system);
  • mental disorders: disturbances of consciousness or confusion, as well as changes in mental state.

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Overdose

Poisoning can cause acute iron overload, which manifests itself in the form of hemosiderosis.

In cases of drug overdose, no symptoms of iron overload or intoxication were observed. This is due to the fact that free iron is absent inside the gastrointestinal tract, and in addition, this component in combination with dextran is not subject to movement inside the body through passive diffusion.

The iron antidote is deferoxamine, which is a chelating agent that synthesizes iron. It is administered in a dosage of 1000 mg (no more than 15 mg/kg/hour).

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Interactions with other drugs

The medicinal efficacy of parenteral iron preparations is enhanced when combined with ACE inhibitors.

Ferrolek Zdorovie cannot be combined with orally administered iron substances. Therapy using such agents must be started at least 5 days after the last injection of the drug.

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Storage conditions

Ferrolek Zdorovie must be kept in a place closed to small children. Temperature values are a maximum of 25 o C. It is prohibited to freeze the preparation.

Shelf life

Ferrolek Health can be used within 5 years from the date of manufacture of the therapeutic agent.

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Application for children

Due to the lack of experience with the drug, it should not be prescribed to infants under 4 months of age.

Analogues

The analogues of the drug are the drugs Sufer and Ferinject with Ferrum-Lek.

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Attention!

To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Ferrolec Health" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.

Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.

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