Infusions

Iron Infusions:

An iron infusion is an iron injection given into your bloodstream through a vein. It is also called intravenous or IV.  The infusion is given slowly and can take from 15 minutes up to several hours depending on the type of iron used.

Giving iron in this way increases the amount of iron stored in your body and can be used to help to treat iron deficiency (low levels of iron in your blood).

There are a few types of iron infusion available. These include:

  • iron polymaltose (Ferrosig®)
  • ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®).

Which type your doctor will prescribe depends on your age, risk factors (eg, kidney problems), what dose you need and how quickly the iron needs to be given. Your GP can refer you to our clinic for an infusion.

The most common way to treat low iron levels is to take iron taken tablets or liquid (called oral iron supplements). This works well for most people and is usually tried first. But if oral iron supplements are not suitable, or don’t work as well or as quickly as needed, then an iron infusion is given. You may need an iron infusion if you:

  • are unable to take iron tablets or liquid
  • are unable to absorb iron through your gut for example, due to inflammatory bowel disease
  • have lost a lot of blood, eg, after a severe injury
  • need a rapid increase in iron to avoid complications after a blood transfusion or before or after major surgery
  • have ongoing (chronic) kidney disease or heart failure.

Biologic Infusions:

Biologic drugs are human-made proteins that are designed to zero in on parts of the immune system that trigger inflammation. They come from a living source (a human or animal) or its products.

Biologics can treat a variety of conditions, such as cancer, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease.

These medicines are given as a shot or through an infusion into a vein.