Venofer and Cramps: What Users Say

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2022

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have had several iron infusions in the last 7 years. Today was the first time I had Venofer. I can tell you I never want this type of iron infusion again. As I was leaving, I felt light-headed, disoriented, and thought I was going to pass out. My BP before the infusion was 113/75. Right after the infusion, it was 125/85. When they wheeled me back after the dizzy feelings, it was 136/94. They had me stand up, and my BP did not register. I had turned ashen and started sweating. They sat me down and took my BP, which had dropped to 95/50. They gave me a fluid IV, and that helped. My finger joints started hurting, and my hands swelled up. The joint pain had continued up into my wrists and is now all over. I was able to drive home, but now I am crashed on the couch with diarrhea, cramping, joint pain, and shortness of breath. At the doctor's office, I was informed that they have had at least 3 other patients this week alone (today is only Tuesday) with adverse reactions to this specific drug."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2022

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Had infusion back in Feb 2022, no issues. Benadryl was administered before treatment. My doc ordered another round late Oct before I was planning on having surgery. During my infusion this time, it was more and a 2 1/2 hour session. Almost near the end, my ankles were on fire. I had to rush and take my socks and shoes off, I was so scared. I had developed hives on my ankles. The nurse said she would give me a saline flush, and I took the Benadryl on my own at home because they stopped giving it out for Venofer. Later that day and the next night, I had a bad headache and muscle pain. 2 days later, I woke up to my hands and arms on fire and I couldn’t close them. It was the worst pain I had ever experienced. It was like an extreme burning sensation and cramp all at once. I was so scared and had to keep opening and closing my hands to get the feeling back into them. I pray that doesn’t happen again. Anyone experienced this?"

• ANO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2023

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I had my iron infusion on Feb. 22, 2023. During the infusion, I was reading a book, and I became really sleepy, and my eyes were blurring, so I decided to sleep. At the end of my iron infusion, my back and stomach started to cramp badly. I was given a steroid and 25 mg of Benadryl. I was told to wait it out and see how I felt. Well, then I went to get up and leave, and my ankles were hurting. I looked down, and they were swollen, and the tops of my feet were discolored when I took off my socks. I lifted my pant legs up, and my calves looked like colored cellulite, they were all dimply, but not itching, although I was told it was hives. I was then given 25 mg more of Benadryl and sent to the ER. Since then, I have not felt like myself. I have had tingly feelings in my feet and legs a lot (mainly my left side). However, I also have a tingly feeling in my face on my left side too, and my left eye feels blurry a lot. I have feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and hand cramping. Please tell me this gets better!"

• Nik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2025

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Venofer for me caused painful spasms and redness of my hands, abdominal cramping, joint pain, and nausea. These symptoms would start within 15 to 30 minutes after the infusion ended without fail. What helped? Running the infusion twice as long, one dose every 1-2 weeks, taking Benadryl, Prednisone, Buscopan, Gravol, and Tylenol as soon as the IV is about to begin, and a follow-up dose of everything 4 to 6 hours later, REST for the rest of the day, and continue to take some Tylenol as needed for the joint pain. I tried Monoferric for the first time most recently and decided to try winging it with only Tylenol at the start of the infusion, which was run for 2 hours. No issues with my hands, did have some mild abdominal cramping and nausea afterward, but it was tolerable for the first day or two afterward. 3 days later, extreme joint pain in my knees and extreme fatigue, well more than the norm anyway. I received 1500 mg."