Iron Infusions
The medical staff attend to many intravenous treatments and your GP will prescribe this if required. We do not provide iron infusions for patients from other practices; your GP will need to refer you to the APAC service on 1300 732 503. Iron infusions are done by our experienced registered nurses within our clinic.
Intravenous or ‘IV’ means giving something directly into the blood stream of the body through a vein. A needle placed into a vein is attached to a drip that contains the ingredient mixed with saline (a sterile salt water solution) or water for irrigation. This fluid is slowly ‘dripped’ (infused) into the vein and mixes with the blood in your body.
Cost
Iron Infusions have an out-of-pocket fee of $160 for those patients who have Medicare or private health insurance. A total fee charged will vary depending upon the treating of GP’s involvement with your infusion. Payment is required in full at the time of your treatment. We accept Cash, Visa, MasterCard and EFTPOS.
Why is iron important?
Iron is essential for the body to make haemoglobin (Hb), a pigment that makes red blood cells red. When the amount of iron in the body gets too low, the haemoglobin level falls below normal. This is known as ‘iron deficiency anaemia’.
Haemoglobin is very important as it carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. If your haemoglobin or iron levels are low this may make you feel tired, lethargic and like you’re not able to carry out your normal routine.
Why might I need IV iron?
The most common way to treat iron deficiency anaemia is to take iron orally as a tablet or liquid. This approach works well for most people and is usually tried first.
IV iron might be needed if you are:
- Unable to tolerate iron taken by mouth
- Unable to absorb iron through the gut
- Unable to absorb enough iron due to the amount of blood that the body is losing
- In need of a rapid increase in iron levels to avoid complications or a blood transfusion
Risks and benefits of IV iron
Your doctor will explain the risks, benefits and available alternatives to IV iron in your particular case. The most significant risk of IV iron is a small chance of having an allergic reaction which, in rare cases, can be life threatening. IV iron is prescribed for iron deficiency anaemia when oral iron is not tolerated, effective or likely to work quickly enough and the benefits of IV iron outweigh the risks in your particular case.