Dose for Iron Infusions - Injectafer

[wacomme]

What is recommended dose for Injectafer iron infusions? Is it 2x500ml a week apart or 2x750ml a week apart? I've read both recommendation on this discussion board.

Last night was my first infusion. The nurse saw the doctor's order for 500ml and questioned that dose, thinking it should be 750ml. She called the doctor and he reiterated the 500ml dose. So, that's what I was given.

Is this correct? Should I have had 750ml?

Thank you.

Michael

[wacomme]

Any thoughts on this matter?

[stjohnh]

The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study group (IRLSSG) guidelines list the USA dose on page 31 as 750mg then repeated 5-7 days later (1500mg total).https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/p ... 0812205250 Dosing is in Table-1, a little before section 3,

There is no FDA recommended dose as the FDA has not approved Injectafer for RLS.

The IRLSSG also lists the European dose as 1000mg given one time. I suspect that there may not be enough data to show if 1000mg is better or worse than 1500mg. I suspect that the different doses recommended are based on how the medicine is supplied. In the USA Injectafer comes in a 750mg vial, so a doc would have to throw away 250mg to get a 500mg dose. In Europe the drug is called Ferinject and comes in 500mg vials.

I have always received 2 doses, 750mg each for the 3 sets of iron I have received. If given the choice, I would pick the 1500mg total dose since I hope that the med would last longer before requiring a repeat. Like maybe 12 months for 1000mg vs 14 months for 1500mg. Those numbers are examples, I don't think it is actually known if 1500mg lasts longer than 1000.

This is somewhat puzzling in that while the Table-1 data gives the doses I mentioned (1500mg in USA), Section 5.3, which discusses the studies used to make the recommendations, only mentions 1000mg doses. Also the algorhythm in Figure 5 indicates a dose of 1000mg, either as a single dose or as two 500mg doses.

[wacomme]

Thank you Holland. There are mixed dosing messages indeed.

[Stainless]

Is this your first time? Is it working? Did your doctor set you up or did you have to seek out a specialist?

I’m considering it but dealing with all these issues. Thx, Rick

[wacomme]

First time. My second dose is tomorrow.

I saw a RLS specialist in Denver, Dr. Duntley. He prescribed the iron infusion (I've taken oral iron for 4 months with no effect). I'm able to receive the infusions in Colorado Springs through an affiliated hospital. And incredibly my insurance is covering the cost (at least I think they are).

Dr. Duntley prescribed 2x500mg of Injectafer a week apart.

I had no ill effect after the first injection. I won't know if the injections are working for about a month.

Michael