What is ferumoxytol?
Ferumoxytol is a type of iron. You normally get iron from the foods you eat. In your body, iron becomes a part of your hemoglobin (HEEM o glo bin) and myoglobin (MY o glo bin). Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your blood to tissues and organs. Myoglobin helps your muscle cells store oxygen.
Ferumoxytol is used to treat iron deficiency anemia in people with chronic kidney disease. Anemia is a lack of red blood cells caused by having too little iron in the body.
Ferumoxytol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about ferumoxytol?
You should not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an injectable form of iron (including ferumoxytol), or if you have iron overload syndrome or any type of anemia that is not caused by iron deficiency.
Before you receive ferumoxytol, tell your doctor if you are on dialysis.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with ferumoxytol. Visit your doctor regularly.
Ferumoxytol can cause unusual results with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests for up to 3 months after you receive this medication. Tell any doctor who treats you that you have received a ferumoxytol injection within the past 3 months.
Ferumoxytol will not affect other types of X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, or nuclear radiation imaging.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving ferumoxytol?
You should not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to an injectable form of iron (including ferumoxytol), or if you have:
Before you receive ferumoxytol, tell your doctor if you are on dialysis.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether ferumoxytol will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether ferumoxytol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using ferumoxytol.