Deferiprone Brand Name– FERRIPROX
What is Deferiprone
Deferiprone is an iron chelator approved for the treatment of transfusional iron overload due to thalassemia syndromes when current chelation therapy is inadequate.
Iron overload is a serious complication caused by frequent blood transfusions in patients with blood transfusion-dependent anemias, such as ß-thalassemia.
In patients with chronic iron toxicity, chelation treatments are effective for rapid iron removal, maintenance of low iron stores, prevention of hepatic, cardiac, and other organ damage caused by iron overload, and ultimately improved survival.
Deferoxamine, a common treatment, is administered parenterally and compliance with a regimen of prolonged subcutaneous infusions can be challenging.
Deferiprone, like deferasirox, is administered orally, it will likely be a more acceptable regimen for chronic use, thus enhancing the management of chronic iron toxicity.
Deferiprone has been associated with agranulocytosis, and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) must be assessed during treatment.
Deferiprone was approved by the FDA in October 2011.
Indications
- transfusional iron overload
For the treatment of transfusional iron overload due to thalassemia syndromes when current chelation treatment is inadequate
NOTE: Safety and efficacy have not been established for the treatment of transfusional iron overload in patients with other chronic anemias.
NOTE: Clinical trials have not established improvement in disease-related symptoms, functioning, or increased survival.
NOTE: Before prescribing and dispensing, ensure the formulation used is appropriate for the dosing regimen. The 1,000 mg tablets are available in 2 different formulations, which have different dosing regimens to achieve the same total daily dosage (i.e., a twice a day tablet and three times a day tablet).
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acute cerebellar syndrome
- acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- agranulocytosis
- anaphylactic shock
- anorexia
- appetite stimulation
- arthralgia
- arthropathy
- atrial fibrillation
- back pain
- chills
- dehydration
- depression
- diarrhea
- diplopia
- drowsiness
- dyspepsia
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- enterocolitis
- epistaxis
- fever
- furunculosis
- GI bleeding
- glycosuria
- headache
- heart failure
- hemoptysis
- hepatitis
- hepatomegaly
- hyperbilirubinemia
- increased intracranial pressure
- infection
- jaundice
- metabolic acidosis
- nausea
- neutropenia
- pancreatitis
- pancytopenia
- papilledema
- peptic ulcer
- peripheral edema
- pharyngitis
- psychomotor impairment
- pulmonary embolism
- purpura
- rash
- retinopathy
- seizures
- teeth grinding (bruxism)
- thrombocytopenia
- thrombocytosis
- trismus
- urine discoloration
- urticaria
- vomiting
- weight gain
- zinc deficiency
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC with differential
- ferritin
- LFTs
- pregnancy testing
- serum zinc
Contraindications
- agranulocytosis
- breast-feeding
- children
- contraception requirements
- geriatric
- infants
- infection
- male-mediated teratogenicity
- neonates
- neutropenia
- pregnancy
- pregnancy testing
Deferiprone is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to deferiprone or any excipients in the formulation
Interactions
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Pseudoephedrine
- Clozapine
- Colchicine; Probenecid
- Deferasirox
- Deferoxamine
- Dichlorphenamide
- Diclofenac
- Diclofenac; Misoprostol
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone; Ferrous fumarate
- Felbamate
- Ferric carboxymaltose
- Ferumoxytol
- Iron
- Iron – Injectable Only
- Iron Dextran
- Iron Salts
- Iron Sucrose, Sucroferric Oxyhydroxide
- Methimazole
- Polysaccharide-Iron Complex
- Probenecid
- Propylthiouracil, PTU
- Sodium Ferric Gluconate Complex; ferric pyrophosphate citrate
- Zinc
- Zinc Salts
