Iron Infusion
Hall Road Medical Centre offers iron infusions for patients with iron deficiency who need a faster or more reliable way to restore their iron levels than tablets can provide. Iron infusions are given by our GPs at our Carrum Downs clinic, with bookings available through HotDoc.
Dr Andrew Hadjitofi and Dr Sai Andey perform iron infusions at Hall Road, with our nurses assisting throughout.
What is an iron infusion
An iron infusion delivers iron directly into your bloodstream through a drip inserted into a vein, usually in your arm. It bypasses your digestive system entirely, so it corrects your iron levels in a single appointment rather than over the weeks or months tablets take.
Your GP will confirm you need an infusion through a blood test that checks your iron and ferritin levels first. Iron infusions aren’t a first-line treatment for everyone. Tablets remain the right starting point for a lot of mild iron deficiency, and your GP will talk you through which option suits your situation.
How long the infusion itself takes depends on the amount of iron your GP prescribes. Budget 2 to 3 hours for the appointment, including a short monitoring period afterwards. Eat normally beforehand, take your regular medicines, and drink plenty of water. You’ll usually need a follow-up blood test 2 to 4 weeks later to check your iron levels have improved.
When your GP recommends an infusion over tablets
Some patients don’t tolerate iron tablets well, or their iron levels don’t improve enough on tablets alone. Others have a level of deficiency that needs correcting quickly, which tablets aren’t built for. Period-related iron deficiency isn’t the only trigger. Chronic conditions including heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and ongoing blood loss can all cause iron deficiency that responds better to an infusion.
Pregnancy can also cause iron deficiency significant enough to need an infusion rather than tablets. One of our doctors can talk you through whether an infusion is suitable if you’re pregnant, as part of your consultation.
What to expect and possible side effects
A nurse or GP monitors you throughout the infusion and for 30 minutes afterwards, to check for any reaction. Side effects and severe reactions are rare. The most common are nausea and headache. Some people notice these starting a day or two after the infusion, and they normally settle by themselves within a few days.
A change in skin colour near the IV site is a rare side effect. It happens if the infusion leaks into the surrounding tissue, and in some cases the staining can be permanent. Tell your nurse or GP straight away if you notice swelling of your lips, mouth or throat, difficulty breathing, or chest pain during or after your infusion, or any pain, swelling, or skin colour change around the IV line.
You’ll be able to drive home and return to your normal activities afterwards, unless you have an unexpected reaction.
Iron infusion cost
Iron infusions cost $200 out of pocket. There’s no Medicare rebate for this procedure.
Iron infusion vs iron tablets
Tablets are cheaper, don’t require a clinic visit, and work well for mild iron deficiency. They can cause stomach upset in some patients and take weeks to months to fully correct iron levels.
An infusion corrects iron levels in a single visit and skips the digestive side effects tablets can cause, but it takes longer on the day and needs a clinic appointment rather than a tablet at home. Your GP will recommend whichever suits your level of deficiency and how you’ve responded to iron before.
Booking your iron infusion
If you’re a new patient, call the clinic to book a long appointment with one of our doctors first. They’ll check your iron levels, talk through whether an infusion is the right option, and let you know when to come back to have it done. Iron infusions aren’t booked directly without this consultation first.
