Deferiprone
About Deferiprone
Deferiprone is indicated to remove excess iron from the body. It is used to treat iron overload caused by frequent blood transfusions in patients with thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate.
Deferiprone contains Deferiprone, which binds to iron and helps the body excrete excess iron in the urine.
In some cases, Deferiprone may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and reddish/brown discolouration of the urine. Most of these side effects may not require medical attention. However, talk to the doctor if the side effects persist or worsen.
If you are allergic to any components in Deferiprone, please inform your doctor. Do not take Deferiprone if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The safety and effectiveness have not been established in children. Keep the doctor informed about your health condition and medications to rule out any side effects.
Uses of Deferiprone
Medicinal Benefits
- It helps eliminate extra iron from the body in people who have iron overload as a result of frequent blood transfusions.
- It shields important organs from iron-related harm, such as the liver and heart.
- It is good at minimising heart-related risks by lowering cardiac iron levels.
- Deferiprone enhances thalassemia major patients' quality of life and long-term survival.
- Helpful when other iron-chelating medications don't work or aren't well tolerated.
Directions for Use
- Take Deferiprone with food to prevent stomach upset.
- Recommended to take two or three times daily or as advised by your doctor.
- Swallow the medicine as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Deferiprone
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Reddish/brown discolouration of urine
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
Medicines Containing this Salt
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Drug Warnings
- Do not take Deferiprone if you are allergic to any of its components, if you have a very low/low blood cell count, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Consult the doctor if you become pregnant during treatment with Deferiprone.
- Stop using Deferiprone and consult a physician immediately if you experience signs of infection, such as fever, chills, body pain, skin sores, or sore throat.
- Inform the doctor if you have a weak immune system or liver or kidney disease.
- Let the doctor know if you are taking any prescription/non-prescription medicines, mineral/vitamin supplements or herbal products.
- Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after the last dose.
- Men should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Deferiprone may interact with certain medicines and either increase side effects
- Drugs used to suppress the immune system (tocilizumab)
• Potential effect: May reduce the neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) count. - Antacids (magnesium, zinc, aluminium)
• Potential effect: May reduce the effectiveness of Deferiprone. - Anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen)
• Potential effect: May reduce the neutrophil count.
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions found/established.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform the doctor if you have
- Liver impairment
- Agranulocytosis/neutropenia (very low/low white blood cell count).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid alcohol consumption while taking Deferiprone as it may make the side effects worse.
Pregnancy
unsafeDeferiprone belongs to pregnancy category D. Do not take Deferiprone if you are pregnant as it may cause foetal harm.
Breast Feeding
unsafeIt is not known if Deferiprone passes into breast milk. Avoid breastfeeding during treatment with Deferiprone and for two weeks after the last dose.
Driving
safe if prescribedDeferiprone is unlikely to affect your ability to drive. However, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
consult your doctorThe safety and efficacy of Deferiprone in patients with severe liver problems have not been established. Please consult the doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
consult your doctorPlease consult the doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
consult your doctorThe safety and effectiveness of Deferiprone in children have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Healthy eating habits:
- Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, stay away from foods high in iron, such as red meat, liver, and iron-fortified cereals.
- Citrus fruits and vitamin C supplements boost the absorption of iron, therefore avoid consuming them in excess unless prescribed.
- To promote general health, eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and enough protein.
- To help the body get rid of extra iron and ease stomach discomfort, drink lots of water.
Lifestyle modifications:
- Avoid alcohol to lessen liver stress.
- Maintain an active lifestyle by engaging in light to moderate exercise, but refrain from overdoing it if you're feeling weak or exhausted.
Special Advise
- The doctor may advise regular blood tests to monitor blood count and iron load in the body.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Iron overload: Iron overload is a condition in which the body has too much iron. It usually occurs due to a condition known as hemochromatosis. Excess iron may poison organs and lead to conditions like cancer, liver cirrhosis, and irregular heartbeat. Symptoms may include general weakness, joint pain, fatigue, stomach pain, and weight loss.
FAQs
Deferiprone is used to remove excess iron from the body. It is used to treat iron overload caused by frequent blood transfusions in patients with thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate.
Deferiprone works by attaching to iron in the body and facilitating its removal.
Deferiprone may cause reddish/brown discolouration of urine. Do not worry, as this is a very common side effect and is not harmful. However, if you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.
Maintain a gap of 4 hours between Deferiprone and mineral/vitamin supplements and antacids containing polyvalent cations like iron, aluminium, and zinc.
The common side effects of the Deferiprone are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, reddish/brown discoloration of urine, headache, diarrhoea. However, these symptoms vanish as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms become worse, please consult a doctor for relief.
