The Anaemia Drip

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Iron infusion therapy is a medical treatment that replenishes the body's iron levels by delivering iron directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) drip. It is an effective solution for people who suffer from iron-deficiency anaemia when oral iron supplements fail to work, are poorly tolerated, or when faster iron replenishment is required.

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At Leicester Ozone Clinic/Leicester Holistic GP we specialise in delivering high-quality iron infusion treatments in a comfortable, safe environment. As with all our infusions, our experienced GP will directly deliver and supervise your therapy following a thorough assessment. . 

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Ingredients

Ferric Carboxymaltose (prescription only medicine): 250 mg  to 1000 mg i.v. in sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

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The Process

Iron infusion is a medical procedure and is subjected to the usual precautions, including suitability assessment.  You can arrange your own blood tests, bring copies of recent NHS tests with you to the consultation or we can arrange the iron studies at an additional cost. We can sign post you to doing your own test if you prefer. This is to ensure that it is safe to give you the infusion and to calculate the iron dose you need, 

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Ideally a blood test needs to be repeated 4 to 8 weeks after your infusion to monitor your response to treatment. Again, you can arrange this yourself or we can arrange it for you. In the event that you require further iron repletion, the iron need will be recalculated based on the new figures. ​​

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Side Effects

Iron infusions are generally considered safe, but as with any medical treatment, there are potential risks and side effects. Some people may experience:
 

• Minor side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, or muscle cramps. 2-3% may report feeling flushed or mild abdominal discomfort during the infusion. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve quickly when the infusion is discounted then restarted. A metallic taste in your mouth is also reported, this normally disappears within 15 minutes of you having the infusion.

• Leakage of iron at the administration site (i.e around the cannula) may lead to irritation of the skin and potentially long lasting brown discolouration at the site of administration. This is why we ensure that the cannula is sitting well within a vein. This may include a flush of saline drip before the iron infusion is commenced. In some cases, we may re-site the cannula to another location.

• Allergic reactions are rare but can occur especially with the older iron formulations that our clinic does not use. In such cases, the infusion will be stopped immediately, and appropriate treatment will be administered in the clinic.

• Iron overload, particularly in individuals with certain genetic conditions or chronic diseases. This risk is greatly reduced by accurate calculation of the dose at the initial consultation and monitoring the iron level after the infusion as detailed above.

• Iron infusion can be given during pregnancy and is considered to be safe if administered appropriately. Animal data suggest that iron can cross the placental barrier and that its use during the early stages of pregnancy may pose a small risk to the baby. On the other hand, iron deficiency is a risk to the baby if not treated. Iron infusion therefore can be administered during pregnancy if the risk/benefit ratio is in favour of giving the infusion and the oral route of iron is not appropriate. At our clinic, we have taken a precautionary approach of not giving iron infusion in the first 3 months of pregnancy. 

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Will I Get Better?

If your symptoms are due only to iron deficiency, there is a high chance of improvement. However, other underlying deficiencies may be present that have not been tested for. Our role is to ensure the infusion is safe for you, but a consultation helps provide a more complete assessment of your needs. If you choose to proceed without one, the outcome may vary depending on other factors.

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Unique Features

Several types of iron preparations can be used for IV iron therapy, each with different characteristics in terms of how quickly they release iron into the bloodstream and how they are tolerated by the body. At our clinic we use Ferric Carboxymaltose as a standard. This is a newer type of prescription grade iron that allows for larger doses to be infused in a shorter amount of time with very low level of side effects compared to older preparations, such as iron dextran.  The new preparations are far safer and so now in routine use in the NHS and worldwide with millions of administrations.

Bookings Procedure

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• Please email us copies of your latest blood tests. We will then respond to you with a recommendation for the dose needed. 

• We regret we CAN NOT give iron infusion in the first 3 months of pregnancy for potential safety concerns.

• If you need an in-depth assessment of your anaemia, please consider booking a consultation first (£150). 

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Prices​

A one-off initial assessment (£150) is recommended but not essential if you have an assessment and recommendation for an iron infusion from another healthcare professional, such as your NHS GP. Please email us the blood test results and we will confirm that you can proceed with the infusion and we will carry out a dose calculation for you.

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• 200 mg iron in a maximum volume of 50 ml saline over a minimum period of 3 minutes: £125/Drip.

• 500 mg iron in a maximum volume of 100 ml saline over a minimum period of 6 minutes: £250/Drip.

• 1000 mg in a maximum volume of 250 ml saline over a minimum period of 15 minutes: £400/Drip.

If the total iron need is calculated to be higher than 1000mg, another appointment is needed after a minimum duration of 1 week. This is because the maximum safe dose of iron in any one infusion is 1000mg.​​

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Click below to book a consultation or directly book the drip (see conditions above)