The Anaemia Shot

​​

We specialise in delivering high-quality iron infusion treatments, please check the iron infusion section. However, if you only need a small dose of iron then you will be suitable for the iron shot.

​​​​

​

Ingredients

Ferric Carboxymaltose (prescription only medicine): 125 mg i.v. shot in sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution

​
 

the process

Iron therapy 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, ​​

​​

​

Will I get better?

If your symptoms are due only to iron deficiency, there is a high chance of improvement. However, other underlying deficiencies or undiagnosed illnesses, e.g thyroid diseases, may be present that have not been tested for. Our role is to ensure the shot 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.

​

​

side effects

Iron is 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 and monitoring the iron level after the therapy as detailed above.

• Iron 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. 

​​​

​

​

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 Procedures

​​

- 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). 

​

​

prices ​

- A one-off initial assessment (£150) is recommended but not essential if you have an assessment and recommendation for an iron therapy 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.

​​

- 125 mg iron in a maximum volume of 25 ml saline over a minimum period of 3 minutes: £75/I.V Shot 

​

For higher doses of iron given as drips please check our iron infusion section. 

​​​​​

​​

​