Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) is an iron replacement injection approved by the FDA in 2013 for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in certain patients as an alternative to oral iron medications.
Injectafer-induced hypophosphatemia (HPP) is an Injectafer side effect causing muscle weakness, fatigue, and severe nausea. In turn, these hypophosphatemia symptoms can lead to Injectafer-related medical complications including osteomalacia, arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, and rhabdomyolysis.
Injectafer is one of several intravenous iron supplements available for use in the US, but Injectafer is the only iron deficiency drug product formulated with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM). According to medical studies, the Injectafer active ingredient ferric carboxymaltose can cause two types of this hypophosphatemia side effect: (1) Severe Hypophosphatemia, or Severe HPP; and, (2) Persistent Hypophosphatemia, or Persistent HPP.
In more detail, hypophosphatemia is an electrolyte disturbance that is found when a patient’s blood tests reveal that there is an abnormally low level of phosphate. There are several levels of hypophosphatemia: mild hypophosphatemia; moderate hypophosphatemia; and, severe hypophosphatemia. In addition, there can be persistent hypophosphatemia when a patient suffers from hypophosphatemia for a sustained period of time.
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