Table 2.

IV iron formulations

Characteristic	Ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject, Injectafer)	Ferumoxytol (Feraheme, Rienso)	Iron isomaltoside 1000 (Monofer, Monoferric)	Iron sucrose (Venofer)	LMW iron dextran (CosmoFer, DexIron, INFeD)	Sodium ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit)
Availability	Europe, USA	Europe, USA	Canada, Europe	Canada, Europe, USA	Canada, Europe, USA	Canada, USA
Indication*	Iron deficiency when oral iron cannot be used	Iron-deficiency anemia in adults with CKD	Iron-deficiency anemia when oral iron cannot be used (or rapid iron supply required [Europe only])	Iron deficiency in CKD (or when oral iron cannot be used or rapid iron supply required [Europe only])	Iron deficiency when oral iron cannot be used (or rapid iron supply required [Europe only])	Iron deficiency in hemodialysis patients receiving erythropoietin therapy
Carbohydrate shell	Carboxymaltose	Polyglucose sorbitol	Isomaltoside	Sucrose	Dextran	Gluconate
Molecular weight, kDa	150	750	150	43	400	289–440
Volume distribution, L	3	3.16	N/A	∼3	N/A	6
Test dose required	No	No	No	No	In Canada/USA only	No
Maximum single dose	750 mg (USA)	510 mg	1500 mg	500 mg	100 mg	125 mg
	1000 mg (Europe)
Infusion rate or time†	≥15 min	Injection at ≤1 mL/s (≤30 mg/s)	≥15 min (≤1000 mg, Europe); ≥20 min (≤1000 mg, Canada); ≥30 min (>1000 mg)	8 min (50 mg); 15 min (100 mg); 30 min (200 mg); 1.5 h (300 mg); 2.5 h (400 mg)	First 25 mg over 15 min, remaining dose at <100 mL/30 min; total dose infusion over 4-6 h	1 h

Reproduced from Lim et al⁴² with permission.

CKD, chronic kidney disease; LMW, low molecular weight; N/A, information not available in product monograph; USA, United States of America.

^*Specific indications vary across jurisdictions; refer to relevant product information. Off-label use of certain products is not uncommon, but should be done in the context of full disclosure to the patient.

^†Minimum infusion time as per product information, which may vary across jurisdictions.