How Do Iron Salts Work?

Iron salts are nutritional supplements used for replacing iron to maintain hemoglobin in people with hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease. Many people with chronic kidney disease have a negative iron balance due to the following reasons:

• Reduced dietary intake
• Reduced absorption of iron from the gut
• Increased iron loss

Supplemental iron is essential in people undergoing hemodialysis to replenish blood loss and for red blood cell (RBC) production.

Iron salts are added to dialysis solutions to replace the iron deficiency. The iron that enters the blood binds to a protein called transferrin and is transported to the RBC production site. Finally, it gets incorporated into hemoglobin.

Iron salts are useful in treating iron deficiency in hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease.

The most common side effects of iron salts include:

• Muscle spasms
• Headache
• Pain in the legs
• Swelling in the leg
• Shortness of breath
• Back pain
• Fever
• Urinary tract infection
• Fatigue
• Allergic reactions
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Itching

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of iron salts include:

• Ferric pyrophosphate DIALYSATE
• Ferric pyrophosphate IV
• Triferic
• Triferic AVNU