Drug details

Desferal (deferoxamine)

type of Chelators

Desferal (deferoxamine mesylate) is an iron-chelating agent used to treat iron overload caused by blood transfusions in adults and children at least 3 years old. Desferal is available in generic form.

This drug may have the following side effects:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing,
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
• fever,
• lightheadedness,
• shortness of breath,
• rapid breathing,
• seizure,
• blurred vision,
• little or no urination,
• muscle weakness,
• confusion, and
• eye pain,
• ringing in your ears,
• hearing problems,
• seeing halos around lights,
• stuffy nose,
• pain behind your eyes,
• poor night vision,
• trouble seeing colors,
• trouble with side (peripheral) vision,
• cloudy appearance in the eye,
• severe, watery, bloody diarrhea with cramping,
• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling)
• redness or swelling around your nose and eyes,
• scabbing inside your nose,
• bone pain,
• problems with speech or memory

The following drugs are related to Desferal, either as a replacement or used together:

• Exjade (deferasirox)
• Jadenu (deferasirox tablets)
• Ferriprox (deferiprone)
• Nithiodote (sodium nitrite injection for intravenous infusion)