What Are Some of the Serious Side Effects From Dextran Infusions?

For patients with an iron deficiency, doctors typically prescribe oral iron supplements to boosts iron levels in the body. When oral supplements are not effective or if a patient is unable to swallow the medications, doctors rely upon injections or intravenous infusions of iron dextran, which poses a risk for serious side effects.

Identification

• The most serious threat posed by dextran infusions is that of anaphylactic or allergic reaction, caused by an immune system sensitivity to the supplement. In many cases, anaphylactic reactions to dextran infusions are life-threatening.

Types of Symptoms

• Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction include abdominal pain, high-pitched breathing sounds or wheezing, anxiety, confusion, coughing, diarrhea, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling faint, hives, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, skin redness and slurred speech, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Time Frame

• Anaphylactic reactions due to iron dextran infusions usually occur within several minutes of the infusion, according to RxList.

Treatment

• When anaphylactic reactions from iron dextran occur, doctors administer an injection of epinephrine, which helps quickly relieve the allergic reaction.

Prevention

• Doctors typically administer a small test dose of iron dextran to check for a possible allergic reaction, but these tests are not fool proof and do not guarantee there will not be an anaphylactic response when the full infusion is given, according to RxList. Fortunately, iron dextran is usually administered in a hospital setting where patients are closely monitored for symptoms of anaphylaxis and given prompt treatment.

Other Risks

• Other, less common risks associated with iron dextran infusions include chest pain, seizures, unconsciousness and changes in heart rate. Doctors typically avoid using iron dextran in patients with a history of liver, kidney or heart disease or rheumatoid arthritis due to the infusion's possible side effects, reports RxList.