Dextran: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What Drug Dextran?

What is dextran used for?

Dextran is a form of iron in the form of a medicinal liquid. Iron is a mineral that is essential for the body, which functions to help transfer oxygen in the blood. This drug is classified as a prescription drug, and cannot be purchased at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. In fact, this drug cannot be used independently, but must be given directly by a doctor in a hospital or clinic.

This drug is mainly used to treat iron deficiency anemia, which is a condition when the production of red blood cells decreases due to iron deficiency in the body. This medicine is used when a person cannot take iron supplements. This drug works by meeting the iron needs in the body in the form of the injectable liquid, so that the body can produce more red blood cells.

Low iron levels can occur when the body doesn't get enough iron from food (poor nutrition, poor absorption) or when the body loses large amounts of blood (hemophilia, stomach bleeding). However, you may also need extra iron due to blood loss during kidney dialysis. Your body may need more iron if you are taking the drug erythropoietin, a drug used to help increase the production of new red blood cells.

How do I use dextran?

This medicine should not be used independently, but rather given by your doctor. There are several things you should know and do while using this drug, namely:

• This medication is usually injected into the buttocks muscles or slowly into a vein as directed by your doctor. When injecting into the buttocks, the next injection is given on the opposite side of the last injection.
• You may be shown by your doctor how to use IV injections at home. However, never inject this drug into your body if you do not really understand the procedure for injecting drugs and do not know where to dispose of drug waste after use.
• This drug should be injected slowly. If it is injected in a hurry it can cause quite serious side effects.
• Before a full dose, a small dose is tested, then increased slowly to check for possible allergic reactions. If no allergic reaction occurs after one hour, the full dose may be given.
• If you are forced to use this medication at home, only have the dose you are going to inject at that time.
• Do not use a dextran container or syringe for the use of other medicinal fluids.
• Do not use this medication if there is a change in color or if there are small particles in it.
• Tell your doctor if your height and weight change, because the dose of dextran given is based on a calculation of your height and weight.
• Get regular blood tests to find out if using this drug is effective for you. You may not notice the change in his condition right away, but blood tests can help your doctor determine how long you should use this medicine.
• The use of this medicine may make the results of certain health checks unreasonable. Tell the doctor performing the medical examination that you are using dextran.
• This medicine bottle can only be used once. Throw away the bottle immediately after it's finished using it, even if there is some medicine left in the bottle.

How do I save dextran?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Do not store in the bathroom and do not freeze in the freezer. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dextran dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dextran dosage for adults?

Adult dosage for iron deficiency anemia

25-100 mg (0.5-2 mL) IM or IV once daily. Doses of 100 mg (2 mL) can be given IM or IV at a certain rate until iron needs have been met.

Adult dosage for anemia associated with chronic renal failure

25 to 100 mg (0.5-2 mL) IM or IV once daily.

What is the dosage of Dextran for children?

There is no provision for the dosage of this drug for children. This medicine can be dangerous for children. It is important to understand the safety of drugs before use. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

In what dosages is dextran available?

Dextran is available as an injection, intramuscular: 100 mg / mL.

Dextran side effects

What side effects can I experience with dextran?

Allergic reactions such as loss of consciousness, fainting, difficulty breathing, hives, swelling, seizures, and low blood pressure (hypotension) may occur due to use of dextran. This medicine should be given under the supervision of a health care professional.

Other less serious side effects are more likely. Continue to use iron dextran and consult your doctor or pharmacist if you experience:

• dizzy
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• fever, sweating, or chills
• soreness, pain, swelling, redness, or other reactions at the injection site
• muscle or joint pain or tenderness
• metallic taste in mouth or
• headache
• brownish discoloration of the skin
• numbness, or burning in the hands, arms, legs, or thighs.
• changes in the sense of taste

Some people may not immediately feel the side effects of the drug, but symptoms of side effects do not appear after 1-2 days of treatment. The side effects mentioned above may decrease after 3-4 days if this medicine is injected intravenously, or 3-7 days if this medicine is injected into a muscle. Tell your doctor right away if the side effects mentioned above do not show any change or get worse for more than 4-7 days.

There are also some serious side effects. If you experience the following symptoms of side effects, you should immediately seek treatment from a health professional. The side effects that are classified as serious include:

• Chest tightness or chest pain
• There is blood in the urine

Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above but that you are experiencing. If you have concerns about certain side effects after using this medicine, immediately consult your doctor or pharmacist for further treatment.

Dextran Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using dextran?

Before using dextran, there are a number of things you should know, namely:

• Contact your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dextran injections. other iron injections such as ferrous carboxymaltose (Injectafer), ferumoxytol (Feraheme), iron sucrose (venofer), or iron sodium gluconate (Ferrlecit); other drugs; or one of the ingredients in an iron dextran injection. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients that make up this drug.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products that you are using or will be using. Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you have a kidney infection and if you have or have ever had rheumatoid arthritis (RA, a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function), heart disease or liver disease.
• Call your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while receiving iron dextran injection, call your doctor.
• This drug is not recommended for use by people with anemia who are not caused by a lack of iron in the body, as well as in patients with kidney infections.

Is dextran safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. Even so, the use of this drug has the potential to have an impact on the baby in the womb. Therefore this drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

A = No risk,

B = not at risk in several studies,

C = May be risky,

D = There is positive evidence of risk,

X = Contraindicated,

N = Unknown

In addition, this drug can also be released through breast milk (ASI), so mothers who are breastfeeding are not advised to take this drug because its effect on the baby is not yet known. We recommend that you consult your doctor first if you really have to take this drug, even though you are a breastfeeding mother.

Also consider the risks and benefits of using this drug. Use it only if the benefits of using this medicine for your health condition outweigh the possible risks if you use it.

Dextran Drug Interactions

What other medicines may interact with dextran?

Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.

There are 10 types of drugs that can interact with dextran and if the interaction occurs it can have an adverse effect on your body, including:

• benazepril
• captopril
• dimercaprol
• fosinopril
• lisinopril
• moexipril
• perindopril
• quanipril
• ramipril
• trandolapril

Meanwhile, there are 15 other types of drugs that may interact with dextran. However, it is possible that the interactions that occur between dextran and these medicines do not have the potential to have too dangerous effects on the health condition of your body.

Can food or alcohol interact with dextran?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with dextran?

The presence of other health problems in your body can affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, such as:

• heart disease
• liver disease
• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis)
• arthritis
• bleeding or blood clots such as hemophilia
• stomach bleeding
• asthma or allergies
• if you are allergic to any medication
• if you are taking beta-blocker drugs (atenolol, carvedilol, metoprolol, nebivolol, propranolol, sotalol, and others)

Dextran overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose that may result from using too much dextran include the following:

• Dizzy
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Muscle ache
• Nausea
• Gag

What should I do if I miss a dose?

In this case, because this medicine is best used with the help of a doctor, if you forget your doctor's appointment for medication, call your doctor immediately and make a new appointment with him.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.