What Is an Iron Infusion?
Iron is a mineral your body needs to make hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen to all your organs and tissues. An iron infusion is a treatment for low iron. During this treatment, you get iron through a vein to bring your levels up to normal.
Getting iron through an infusion can raise your blood iron levels faster than an iron pill. Depending on your starting iron level, you may need more than one infusion to reach optimum levels.
Reasons to Get an Iron Infusion
The main reason to get an iron infusion is for an iron deficiency, says Jay Yang, MD, a professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and a hematologist/oncologist at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. "When people have an iron deficiency, that can cause anemia."
Anemia means that your body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It causes symptoms like tiredness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Untreated low iron can lead to complications like a fast or irregular heartbeat. Low iron during pregnancy can cause your baby to be born too early.
The most common way to replace iron is with a pill, but your doctor might recommend an iron infusion if:
- Iron pills cause you side effects like an upset stomach, constipation, and bloating.
- Your iron levels didn't improve enough with a pill.
- Your body doesn't absorb iron from pills very well because of a condition like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease.
- You need to replace iron quickly because of severe anemia, pregnancy, bleeding in your GI tract, dialysis, or surgery.
- You have chronic kidney disease or heart failure.
- You can't have a blood transfusion, for example, because of your religion.
What iron level requires an iron infusion?
That depends on the reason for the iron infusion. You may need an infusion sooner for certain conditions than for others, regardless of your iron levels.
Iron Infusion Benefits
Your body needs enough iron to make red blood cells, keep your muscles strong, and give you energy. The advantage of getting iron through an infusion instead of taking a pill is that an infusion replaces iron faster. Iron through a vein may also be easier for your body to absorb. And because the iron doesn't go through your digestive tract the way a pill does, infusions cause fewer GI side effects, like an upset stomach.
What to Expect From an Iron Infusion
Getting an iron infusion is a fairly simple process. You'll have this treatment done at a medical office, infusion center, or clinic.
Before the infusion
Your doctor will write a prescription for the iron dose based on your weight and hemoglobin level. Tell the doctor:
- What medical conditions you have
- Whether you have any allergies
- If you've ever had a reaction to iron
- If you are pregnant
- What medications you take, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements
If you had a reaction to IV iron in the past, your doctor might give you a steroid shot or other medicine before the infusion to prevent another reaction.
You don't need to do anything special to prepare for an iron infusion. Eat normally on the morning of your appointment and drink extra water.
During the infusion
The nurse or other provider will first clean the back of your arm or hand where the IV will go. Then they'll place a needle with a tube on one end into the vein, and tape the tube to your arm so it stays in place. The tube is attached to a bag that contains iron mixed with a salt and water solution. This mixture slowly drips into your vein.
How long does an iron infusion take?
Most iron infusions take 15 to 30 minutes. There are a few types of IV iron preparations. Each one differs in how much iron it contains and how long it takes to give to you.
After an Iron Infusion
You will stay at the clinic or infusion center for about 30 minutes afterward so the staff can watch you for any reactions. The nurse may check your vital signs again. Then you can go home. You should be able to return to your normal activities right away.
How long does it take for an iron infusion to work?
That depends on how low your iron was to start. "You will often see at least some improvement in the hemoglobin values within a week or two," Yang says. Iron deficiency symptoms like tiredness and shortness of breath should also start to improve over that time. Your doctor can give you a better idea of what to expect after the infusion.
One infusion may not be enough to get your iron levels back to normal. "Depending on how severe your anemia or iron deficiency is and which product is being used, some patients will need more than one IV iron infusion to replace what's missing," Yang says. Iron infusions are usually spaced at least one week apart.
Your doctor will check your blood count or hemoglobin levels again about two to four weeks after the infusion to see whether you responded to the iron. You may need periodic iron checks after that to make sure your levels don't get too low again.
Feeling worse after an iron infusion
Most people do fine with iron infusions. You may feel a little tired afterward. Some people feel a little ill afterward from side effects like a headache, nausea, dizziness, or muscle pain. These symptoms should go away on their own within a few hours to days.
Iron Infusion Side Effects
Most side effects from iron infusions are mild, including:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Joint or muscle pain
- Rash or skin redness
- Slight fever
- Swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- Chest pain
Anaphylaxis is a more severe but rare reaction that includes trouble breathing, a rash, and low blood pressure. It hardly ever happens with newer forms of IV iron. The person who gives you the infusion will watch you for signs of anaphylaxis and treat you if it happens.
Long-term side effects of an iron infusion
Most side effects from an iron infusion don't last long. Rarely, people who have more than one infusion get low levels of phosphate in their blood. See your doctor if symptoms like tiredness and joint and muscle pain don't go away after an infusion.
Takeaways
Iron is a mineral our bodies need to make hemoglobin. An iron infusion is a treatment for low iron or iron deficiency anemia. You get this treatment in a vein in your hand or arm. The infusion should start to improve your iron levels and symptoms within a couple of weeks. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived and include headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
Iron Infusion FAQs
How much does an iron infusion cost?
The cost of an iron infusion depends on what type you get, where you have the treatment, and how much your insurance covers. Each infusion can range in price from $400 to more than $4,300.
Can an iron infusion induce labor?
It's not likely. Anemia during pregnancy can increase the risk of early labor, as well as preeclampsia (high blood pressure) and cesarean section. Treating anemia with iron infusions may help to prevent these complications. Iron infusions are considered safe during pregnancy.
One study found that iron infusions led to temporary contractions and early delivery, specifically in pregnant women who'd had a C-section in the past. More research is needed to understand what effect, if any, iron infusions might have on contractions and early labor.
Why are doctors reluctant to give iron infusions?
Some doctors are reluctant to give iron infusions because they worry about the risk of anaphylaxis and other serious side effects. In the past, some forms of IV iron were linked to serious reactions and even death. But newer iron formulations are much safer, and serious risks are rare. The person who gives you your iron infusion will monitor you and will treat it in the rare case that it does happen.
What should you avoid after an iron infusion?
You can go back to your normal activities after an iron infusion. But you may want to avoid intense exercise for two days afterward, because it could increase the risk of joint pain. If you've been taking iron supplements, stop them for one week after the infusion.