What Are The Side Effects of Injectafer?
Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose) is an intravenous iron infusion injection for the treatment of iron deficient anemia. Although the drug makers have indicated that Injectafer side effects are mainly mild, a number of users have experienced dangerously low phosphorous levels that cause a medical condition known as symptomatic, or severe hypophosphatemia (HPP).
Ferric Carboxymaltose Hypophosphatemia can result in repeated hospital or emergency room treatments, and lead to a number of other serious health problems particularly following repeated, long-term iron infusion injections.
According to allegations previously raised in Injectafer iron infusion lawsuits, false and misleading warnings about the serious nature of these Injectafer side effects were allegedly withheld from users and the medical community for years.
Symptoms Experienced from Injectafer Long Term Side Effects Link
Low phosphate levels following long-term Injectafer iron infusions may cause a number of early symptoms of hypophosphatemia side effects, which may not be immediately linked to the IV iron infusion, including:
- Generalized Weakness and Fatigue
- Muscle, Joint and Bone Pain
- Mental Confusion, Irritability or Anxiety
- Difficulty Walking
- Bone Fractures
- Renal Salt Wasting (RSW)
If not promptly treated, these Injectafer complications could have caused severe consequences. Those who experienced side effects after iron infusion may later be diagnosed with a number of different serious medical condition, like:
- Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Cardiac Arrhythmia, Tachycardia, Bradycardia or Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiac Arrest
- Neuropathy
- Respiratory Failure
- Renal Failure, Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease
- Wrongful Death
What Can You Expect After an Iron Infusion with Injectafer?
Injectafer iron infusions are administered through an IV, which takes about 15 minutes. The iron injections are usually given in a series of infusions spaced at least seven days apart. Most individuals suffering from iron deficiency anemia (IDA) require two or more iron infusions, which increases the risk of experiencing long-term Injectafer side effects.
After the iron injection, a doctor or medical provider typically monitors the patient for about 30 minutes to check for signs of an allergic reaction or other side effects of Injectafer that are disclosed on the FDA warning label. However, for years the drug makers failed to provide any information for users or the medical community about the importance of monitoring serum phosphate levels before and after receiving Injectafer.
Injectafer Side Effects Mimic Iron Deficiency Symptoms Which Can Cause HPP to Go Undiagnosed
Signs of extreme fatigue, weakness, chest pain, headache, cold hands and feet, inflammation of the tongue, brittle nails and strange cravings for ice or dirt may be symptoms that iron deficiency is an ongoing problem, and more injections may be recommended. However, several of these symptoms are also similar to side effects of blood phosphate drops after Injectafer, further increasing the risk that users may face.
What Health Problems Do Low Phosphate Levels Cause?
Low phosphate levels can cause generalized weakness, fatigue, pain, difficulty walking, bone fractures, renal salt wasting (RSW) and other side effects. If an individual experiences mild or moderate drops in phosphate levels for a sustained period of time, they may be diagnosed with Persistent HPP side effects. If a more substantial decrease in serum phosphate is caused by Injectafer side effect, Severe HPP may be diagnosed.
Serum phosphate is an important element for maintaining health, with the mineral phosphorus making up about 1% of an individual’s total body weight. It is a component of bones, teeth, DNA and RNA.
Phosphorus is found in every cell in the body, and it is vital for bone growth, energy storage, nerve production and muscle growth.
Injectafer infusion side effects may cause drops in phosphate levels in the body, due to impact on the FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor 23) hormone.
A normal serum phosphate level in the body is considered 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dl. When blood testing detects phosphorus below this level, a medical diagnosis of hypophosphatemia (HPP) may be made.
HPP Health Problems Caused by Injectafer Iron Infusion Side Effects
Failure to detect or properly treat persistent or severe hypophosphatemia (HPP) from Injectafer injections, can cause a number of other health problems including:
▸ Osteomalacia
Hypophosphatemia is a known cause of osteomalacia, which involves a softening of the bones. This can result in bone and joint pain after an iron infusion, especially following exercise or movement.
Osteomalacia Injectafer side effects may also cause muscle cramps and difficulty walking, often described as a “waddle”.
Injectafer-induced osteomalacia also makes it more likely to experience broken bones from Injectafer, particularly those in the hips, lower back, ankles and feet.
These bone problems caused by iron infusions may also be diagnosed as osteoporosis, which is a related medical condition where the body begins to lose bone mass, resulting in weak and brittle bones. This can also cause bone fractures, which can occur from light impacts, such as falls or minor bumps.
▸ Rhabdomyolysis
One of the more devastating Injectafer infusion side effects may result in rhabdomyolysis, which is a painful condition that results from death of the muscle fibers and the release of their contents into the bloodstream, where they are processed by the kidneys.
Early symptoms of Injectafer-induced rhabdomyolysis may include muscle pain in the shoulders, thighs or lower back, muscle weakness, difficulty moving arms and legs, as well as dark red or brown urine.
Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening disease, which can lead to
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
- End-Stage Renal (Kidney) Failure
This occurs when the kidney can not remove waste and concentrated urine. Rhabdomyolisis from Injectafer may also result in hypovolemic shock, which occurs when 20% (one-fifth) of the body’s blood or fluid supply is lost, which makes it impossible for the heart to pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body. This can result in organ failure.
▸ Cardiac Arrhythmia
A heart arrhythmia, which may also be referred to as an irregular heartbeat or cardiac dysrhythmia, includes a range of heart problems that occur when electrical pulses to the heart are disrupted. This can cause the heart to beat irregularly, resulting in:
- Tachycardia: when the heart beats too fast
- Bradycardia: when the heart beats too slow
- Atrial Fibrillation: also known as a flutter or irregular heartbeat
Low phosphorus from Injectafer infusions can cause significant ventricular ectopic activity, resulting in cardiac arrhythmia.
▸ Cardiac Arrest
Heart problems following an Injectafer infusion can also result in sudden cardiac arrest or heart failure, which occurs when the heart can not pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This can cause abnormal heart rhythm problems like tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. In some cases, bradycardia, when the heart beats too slowly, can cause cardiac arrest following an iron infusion.
While this is not the same as a heart attack caused by Injectafer, which occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, some individuals may refer to the cardiac arrest this way.
Potential symptoms of an Injectafer cardiac arrest may include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, weakness, heart palpitations or sudden loss of consciousness. If not treated immediately, sudden cardiac arrest from Injectafer infusions can lead to a wrongful death.
▸ Neuropathy
Damage to the peripheral nervous system may also result from serum phosphate drops caused by an Injectafer infusions.
These nerve problems from Injectafer may cause weakness, numbness and loss of sensation, as well as what is often described as a “pins-and-needles” sensation, stabbing or burning pain.
Iron infusion neuropathy can also result in a lack of coordination, muscle weakness and even paralysis in severe cases.
▸ Respiratory Failure
If the lungs are unable to get enough oxygen into the blood due to drops in phosphate levels, it may result in respiratory failure after an iron infusion.
Side effects of respiratory failure from an Injectafer infusion results in not enough oxygen reaching the heart, brain or other organs, which can cause shortness of breath, confusion, and organ failure.
Injectafer Wrongful Death Lawyers
Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously represented families of individuals who suffered fatal outcomes from Injectafer iron infusions. These cases sought wrongful death settlements from the drug manufacturers.
Historically, the compensation and eligibility for such claims varied by state, often allowing financial recovery for primary beneficiaries including:
- Mother or Father
- Wife or Husband
- Son or Daughter
In situations where the deceased had no surviving immediate family members, secondary beneficiaries who were financially dependent could potentially pursue claims.
Lawsuits Over Failure to Warn About Injectafer Risks
Although drug makers knew or should have known about the serious hypophosphatemia (HPP) risk following the iron infusion, lawsuits claimed Injectafer side effect warnings only made a passing reference to reductions in blood phosphorus levels and failed to disclose the serious side effects that can result from this condition.
Early warning label information provided to users and the medical community grossly mischaracterized the known risk of sharp drops in serum phosphate from Injectafer side effects. Reports of problems were described as “transient” and “asymptomatic”, when a large number of individuals were experiencing devastating injuries after the iron infusions.
Severe HPP and persistent HPP from Injectafer can lead to prolonged and permanent injuries. Many of these problems could have been avoided if drug makers had warned about the side effects, and the importance of monitoring serum phosphate levels after an iron infusion.
Injectafer Side Effect Lawsuits Previously Investigated
The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously investigated potential individual and Injectafer class action lawsuits for those who suffered severe and/or side effects after Injectafer treatments.
All claims were handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there were no out-of-pocket expenses and no fees unless a settlement or recovery was obtained.