Iron Dextran is an iron supplement used to treat iron deficiency in patients who cannot take oral iron. Iron dextran is a dark brown, slightly viscous liquid complex of ferric hydroxide and dextran for intravenous or intramuscular use.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
After iron dextran is injected, the circulating iron dextran is removed from the plasma by cells of the reticuloendothelial system, which split the complex into its components of iron and dextran. The iron is immediately bound to the available protein moieties to form hemosiderin or ferritin, the physiological forms of iron, or to a lesser extent to transferrin. This iron which is subject to physiological control replenishes hemoglobin and depleted iron stores.
- Primary indication
- For treatment of patients with documented iron deficiency in whom oral administration is unsatisfactory or impossible.Curator reviewed · 1 structured indication
- First approval
- Canada, 2005 · United States, 1974
- Also known as
- Dextran iron · Iron dextran complex
- Brand names
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of September 13, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Iron Dextran, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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