Intravenous iron sucrose, sold under the brand name Venofer is a treatment used for iron deficiency anemia. Iron sucrose replaces iron in the blood to foster red blood cell production in patients with chronic kidney disease.[1]
Iron sucrose is available as a generic medication.[2]
Medical uses
Iron sucrose is a dark brown liquid solution. It is administered intravenously and is only used when a patient with iron deficiency cannot be treated using oral iron options.[3] It is a generally effective drug, with more than 80% of patients responding to treatment. Iron sucrose has ~20 mg of iron per mL of solution. A typical adult patient can safely receive 600 mg of iron sucrose per week, administered in separate doses of 200–300 mg. Most patients experience an increase in their hemoglobin levels of at least 20 g/L. Administration usually takes from fifteen to thirty minutes and is done by a medical professional. Often, normal saline solution (NSS) is mixed with the iron sucrose during injection.[4]