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Overview: Injectafer is used to treat iron deficiency anemia. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, skin redness, dizziness, and pain, itching, swelling, or redness near the injection site. Serious side effects may include low phosphate levels, increased blood pressure, or allergic reactions. Tell your health care provider right away if you have unexplained tiredness, weak or sore muscles, or bone or joint pain. Keep all appointments for blood work while using this medicine. Injectafer is given as infusion into a vein.

Uses

What is Injectafer used for?

Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) is commonly used to treat certain people with iron deficiency anemia who have the following conditions.

Injectafer may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does Injectafer work (mechanism of action)?

Injectafer helps with iron deficiency anemia by adding more iron to your body.

How is Injectafer supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Injectafer

Dosage forms and strengths

  • Injectafer is available in an injectable form that is given by a health care provider.

How should I store Injectafer?

Injectafer is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Injectafer?

The most common side effects of Injectafer are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Increased blood pressure (see below)
  • Redness and warmth of the face, ears, neck, or chest 
  • Pain, itching, swelling, or redness near the injection site
  • Skin redness
  • Low phosphate levels (see below)
  • Dizziness
  • Headache

There may be other side effects of Injectafer that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Injectafer?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Injectafer are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Low Phosphate Levels. Injectafer can cause low levels of phosphate in your blood, also called hypophosphatemia. This can sometimes be serious and last a long time. Low phosphate levels may make your bones softer or more likely to break. Keep all appointments for blood work. Tell your health care provider right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of low phosphate levels.

  • Tiredness
  • Weak or sore muscles
  • Pain in bones or joints
  • Broken bones

Increased Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Injectafer may increase your blood pressure or make it worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. Call your health care provider if your blood pressure increases while using this medicine.

If you measure your blood pressure and the top number (systolic) is 180 or higher or the bottom number (diastolic) is 120 or higher, get medical attention right away. Increases in blood pressure may not be noticeable, but look out for and tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of severely high blood pressure.

  • Sudden severe headache
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Blurry or other changes to vision
  • Anxiety
  • Buzzing in the ears
  • Nosebleed
  • Feeling of skipped heartbeats

Severe Allergic Reactions. Injectafer may cause allergic reactions, which can be life-threatening. After receiving an infusion of Injectafer, your health care provider will likely monitor you for at least 30 minutes to watch for signs of an allergic reaction. Get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Cold or clammy skin or blue feet or hands

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Injectafer?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Injectafer.

  • Ferric carboxymaltose
  • Injectafer
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Injectafer.

What should I know about Injectafer before using it?

Injectafer is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. It is given as an infusion into a vein (IV). After each dose, your health care provider will likely monitor you for at least 30 minutes to watch for an allergic reaction.

Your health care provider will likely check your iron and phosphate levels before starting Injectafer and while you are using it. This is to monitor your treatment and make sure the medicine is safe and working. Keep all appointments with your health care provider.

Injectafer can interfere with certain lab test results. If you are having lab tests done, tell your health care providers if you had a dose of Injectafer in the past 24 hours.

Injectafer can affect your alertness or coordination. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how Injectafer affects you.

Tell your health care provider if you notice any medicine leaking from the area where it is infused. If the medicine leaks, it may cause skin staining or discoloration.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Injectafer?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Injectafer is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have or have had any of the following.

  • Stomach problems, including inflammatory bowel disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Low levels of vitamin D
  • High levels of parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism)
  • Trouble absorbing vitamins or phosphate
  • Low phosphate levels
  • Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) or Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome
  • Used Injectafer in the past
  • Received iron into a vein and had an allergic reaction

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Injectafer could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. If you have a serious allergic reaction to Injectafer, this may cause harm to a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your health care provider will let you know if you should use Injectafer while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Injectafer passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will let you know if you should use Injectafer while breastfeeding.

How can I get more information about Injectafer?

For more information about Injectafer, you can visit the drugmaker’s website at www.injectafer.com or call them at 800-734-9236.

Interactions

Does Injectafer interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Injectafer and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Injectafer. The risk of dizziness may increase if you drink alcohol while using Injectafer.

Does Injectafer interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

There are no known interactions between Injectafer and other medicines. Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Injectafer?

If you or someone else has used too much Injectafer, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Injectafer?

Injectafer is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. Your health care provider will make sure you are receiving Injectafer as scheduled.

If you miss an appointment to get your Injectafer dose, call to make another appointment as soon as possible.