Ferumoxytol

Class: Iron Preparations
VA Class: TN410
Molecular Formula: Fe₅₈₇₄O₈₇₅₂C₁₁₇₁₉H₁₈₆₈₂O₉₉₃₃Na₄₁₄
CAS Number: 1309-38-2
Brands: Feraheme

Introduction

Hematinic agent: a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle with a polyglucose sorbitol carboxymethylether coating.^{1 2 3}

Uses for Ferumoxytol

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD).^{1 2 3}

National Kidney Foundation guidelines recommend use of IV iron in patients undergoing hemodialysis and either oral or IV iron in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and in those with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis.⁴

Ferumoxytol Dosage and Administration

General

Goal of iron therapy in patients with chronic renal failure not undergoing dialysis or undergoing peritoneal dialysis is to achieve and maintain a transferrin saturation (TSAT) of >20% and a serum ferritin concentration of >100 ng/mL.⁴

Goal of iron therapy in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis is to achieve and maintain a TSAT of >20% (or content of hemoglobulin in reticulocytes [CHr] >29 pg/cell) and a serum ferritin concentration of >200 ng/mL.⁴

Evaluate hematologic response (e.g., serum ferritin concentration, hemoglobin level, iron and transferrin saturation) at least one month after the second dose of ferumoxytol.¹

Monitor for hypersensitivity reactions for at least 30 minutes after each injection.¹ Appropriate agents and personnel for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions should be readily available.¹

Monitor for hypotension.¹

Administration

IV Administration

Administer undiluted by IV injection.¹

Hemodialysis patients: Administer after first hour of dialysis, when patient is hemodynamically stable.¹

Rate of Administration

1 mL/second.¹

Dosage

Dosage expressed in terms of mg of elemental iron.¹ Ferumoxytol injection contains the equivalent of 30 mg of elemental iron per mL.¹

Adults

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

IV

Initial dose is 510 mg; second dose is 510 mg administered 3–8 days after initial dose.¹

Course of ferumoxytol may be repeated.¹

Special Populations

Geriatric Patients

Select dosage with caution because of age-related decreases in hepatic, renal, and/or cardiac function and potential for concomitant disease and drug therapy.¹

Cautions for Ferumoxytol

Contraindications

• 
  

  Known hypersensitivity to ferumoxytol or any ingredient in the formulation.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Evidence of iron overload.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Anemias not associated with iron deficiency.¹

  
  

Warnings/Precautions

Sensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reactions) reported; serious reactions reported in 0.2% of patients; other potential hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., pruritus, rash, urticaria, wheezing) reported in 3.7% of patients.¹ Monitor patient for hypersensitivity reactions for at least 30 minutes after each injection.¹

Cardiovascular Effects

Hypotension reported in 1.9% of patients; serious hypotensive reactions reported in a few patients.¹ Monitor patient for hypotension.¹

Iron Toxicity

Withhold iron administration in patients with evidence of iron overload.¹ Excessive administration of parenteral iron preparations may cause excess storage of iron with the possibility of iatrogenic hemosiderosis.¹

Evaluate hematologic response at least 1 month after second dose.¹ Laboratory assays may overestimate serum iron and transferrin-bound iron in the 24 hours following injection of ferumoxytol.¹

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

May temporarily affect magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies; alteration in MRI studies may persist for up to 3 months after the last dose of ferumoxytol.¹

Schedule MRI studies before administration of ferumoxytol.¹ If MRI studies are needed within 3 months of ferumoxytol administration, use of T1- or proton density-weighted pulse sequences minimizes the effects of the drug.¹ Do not perform MRI studies using T2-weighted pulse sequences earlier than 4 weeks after drug administration.¹ Maximum alteration in vascular MRI studies is expected for 1–2 days following drug administration.¹

Does not interfere with radiography, computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), ultrasound, or nuclear imaging.¹

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category C.¹

Lactation

Not know whether ferumoxytol is distributed into human milk.¹ Discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman and the benefits of nursing.¹

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients.¹

Geriatric Use

No overall differences in efficacy or safety relative to younger adults; possibility of increased sensitivity cannot be ruled out.¹ Use caution in dosage selection.¹ (See Geriatric Patients under Dosage and Administration.)

Common Adverse Effects

Diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, hypotension, constipation, peripheral edema.¹

Interactions for Ferumoxytol

No formal drug interaction studies to date.¹

Oral Iron Preparations

Ferumoxytol injection expected to reduce absorption of concomitantly administered oral iron.¹

Ferumoxytol Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Time to peak plasma concentrations is 0.32 hours.¹

Elimination

Elimination Route

Not removed by dialysis.^{1 3}

Half-life

15 hours.¹

Stability

Storage

Parenteral

Injection

20–25°C (may be exposed to 15–30°C).¹

ActionsActions

• 
  

  Ferumoxytol is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system.¹ Subsequently, iron is released from ferumoxytol into macrophages.¹ Iron enters the intracellular storage pool or is bound to plasma transferrin for transport to erythroid precursor cells where it is incorporated into hemoglobin.¹

  
  

Advice to Patients

• 
  

  Risk of hypersensitivity reactions.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Risk of hypotension.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of informing clinician of prior hypersensitivity reactions to parenteral iron preparations.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of women informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.¹

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information.¹ (See Cautions.)

  
  

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Ferumoxytol

Routes	Dosage Forms	Strengths	Brand Names	Manufacturer
Parenteral	Injection, for IV use	equivalent to elemental iron 30 mg/mL	Feraheme	AMAG Pharmaceuticals

Disclaimer

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com represent that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com make no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com do not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS Drug Information. © Copyright, 1959-2011, Selected Revisions October 2009. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

References

1. AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Feraheme (ferumoxytol) injection prescribing information. Lexington, MA; 2009 Jun.

2. Spinowitz BS, Kausz AT, Baptista J et al. Ferumoxytol for treating iron deficiency anemia in CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008; 19:1599-1605. [PubMed 18525001]

3. Provenzano R, Schiller B, Rao M et al. Ferumoxytol as an intravenous iron replacement therapy in hemodialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009; 4:386-93. [PubMed 19176796]

4. National Kidney Foundation. K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines and clinical practice recommendations for anemia of chronic kidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2006; 47 (Suppl 3);S1-S146.

More Ferumoxytol resources

• Ferumoxytol Side Effects (in more detail)
• Ferumoxytol Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Ferumoxytol Drug Interactions
• Ferumoxytol Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Ferumoxytol - Add your own review/rating

• Ferumoxytol MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Ferumoxytol Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• ferumoxytol Intravenous Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Feraheme Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Feraheme Consumer Overview

Compare Ferumoxytol with other medications

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• Iron Deficiency Anemia