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Ferriprox
Ferriprox is a drug prescribed to reduce high levels of iron in the blood. It is specifically approved for use in people who have to receive blood transfusions due to a genetic condition called thalassemia. Ferriprox comes in the form of a tablet and is taken by mouth three times daily. Side effects may include nausea, abnormal urine color, and stomach pain.
Ferriprox® (deferiprone) is a prescription medication approved to treat people with thalassemia who have iron overload from blood transfusions when current iron removal (chelation) therapy does not work well enough. Thalassemia is a genetic condition that causes destruction of red blood cells.
(Click Ferriprox Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Ferriprox is made by Apotex, Inc., for ApoPharma USA, Inc.
Ferriprox is an iron chelator. This means that it binds with iron in the blood, allowing it to be excreted through the urine; normally, iron cannot be excreted through the urine. This helps to lower levels of iron in the blood.
This medication has been extensively evaluated in clinical studies. These studies evaluated Ferriprox in people who did not adequately respond to other iron chelation therapies. In these studies, about half of the people had a "good response" to Ferriprox, meaning these people had at least a 20 percent reduction in iron levels within the first year of use.
Some general considerations to keep in mind during treatment with Ferriprox include the following:
- Ferriprox comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth three times a day.
- You may take this medication with or without food. If it seems to bother your stomach, try taking it with food.
- For Ferriprox to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD