An iron infusion is a medical procedure that delivers iron into the body through a needle that goes into a vein in the arm or hand. Iron is a mineral that is essential for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. If the body does not have enough iron, it cannot make enough hemoglobin, and anemia can develop. An iron infusion is a way to receive iron through a small catheter in the vein, also known as intravenous (IV) iron supplementation.
Iron infusions are usually prescribed by doctors to treat iron deficiency anemia when oral iron supplements are not effective or cannot be used. People who may need an iron infusion include those who have experienced significant blood loss from cancers, ulcers, and heavy periods, those who eat a diet that is very low in iron, those who take medicines that affect the body’s ability to use iron to make hemoglobin, and those who have a condition that uses up more iron, such as kidney failure or pregnancy.
An iron infusion usually takes place at a hospital or hemodialysis center, and a healthcare provider will use a needle to insert a small tube into a vein, known as a catheter, which is usually put into a vein in the arm or hand. Then, the healthcare provider will remove the needle, leaving the catheter in the vein. Iron infusions involve delivering a dose of iron through the vein with an IV drip, and the infusion can take 15 to 30 minutes, during which a healthcare provider will monitor the patient for 30 minutes or more after the infusion to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
Iron infusion is a more immediate treatment than supplements or dietary changes, and it can quickly bring up the body’s iron levels. Multiple studies have found that an iron infusion is more effective and more tolerable than the oral kind, and they also rarely cause a major reaction. However, iron infusion side effects are usually mild and may include headache, nausea, dizziness, and muscle aches. In rare instances, a person may experience iron toxicity, which can cause anaphylactic shock and severe low blood pressure.
