Venofer and Headaches: What Users Say

• Lib...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2019

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Key with Venofer is to have them slow and wait between infusions. Too much at once will cause symptoms. I felt extremely faint and sick out of nowhere my first infusion when I had 200 mg over one hour. But now they do 200 mg over 2 hours instead, 2 weeks apart, and it is better, but I still feel pretty sick afterwards. Headaches, tiredness, anxiety, and GI issues for weeks after."

• 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?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2016

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "My experience with this drug was bad. I had my first iron infusion at 11 in the morning, and about 4 in the afternoon, I was in the ER. I had tremendous body aches and a headache; I was vomiting very violently (to mention only a few symptoms). At the ER, they did blood work and determined that my iron levels were five times the normal. I see in the other comments from other patients that their injection took them about 2 hours; mine took about 5 minutes."

• Bon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2022

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "First dose of Venofer IV: strong black licorice/molasses flavor in mouth; other than that, feel the same. A few hours later, feeling very tired, lightheaded almost to the point of passing out (every time I move my body), weak, headache (not bad though), loss of appetite, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. 2nd dose, one week after initial dose: all the above symptoms only much more severe, except headache (small headache), and lasted three solid days. Worn out from walking down a short hallway. Primary care doctor said to wait a week to see how I feel. I also saw a hematologist about the above symptoms who advised getting a different iron infusion drug and ordered other tests. 3rd dose (2 weeks after the 2nd dose), administered same iron IV (long story): bloodwork showed slight improvement in hemoglobin count, but same symptoms! It’s the day after my IV, and I’ve been in bed. Movement makes me feel like I’m going to faint."

• Dai...
• March 21, 2023

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I just finished my last dose of Venofer. I had a total of 5 infusions at the hospital. I was fine after the first one, second, and then after the third, I felt dizzy and have been dizzy ever since. Almost like my equilibrium is off. I have also had horrible headaches too. My vision is a bit blurry at times too. I feel like it’s hard for me to have a drink of alcohol or wine too. I do believe it’s helped my energy level, but also at times I feel my heart racing since starting the drug. I also have had trouble falling asleep. I hope these will all pass soon as I’m now finished with the drug. Nothing happened during the infusions, it’s all been long delayed side effects."

• GUI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2013

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have had 1 dose of 200 ml IV Venofer administered over a 2-hour period. I have noticed that this week I am very tired, have muscle aches, and a few episodes of intestinal pain. At the time of administration of my first dose, I got a headache about 15 minutes after the start of the transfusion and also about 5 minutes before the end of the session. Up to 15 minutes after, I felt sick to my stomach and like I was going to vomit. Sure hope this works, I have 4 more sessions to go."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2023

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was injected with Venofer in January this year, a day after I delivered my baby. I was told nothing of this drug, so I didn’t want it. They insisted that I get it, and since then, even now still, I have been experiencing terrible headaches, dizziness, muscle aches and joint pain, hives, edema, blurry vision, shortness of breath, excruciating pain around the injection site, and then some. I never experienced any of these symptoms before in my life, and now my body is screwed up. I don’t know for how long. Hope it goes away soon."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2023

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have a disorder that causes me to lose lots of blood. I was given Venofer, and I still have several side effects, so why can’t someone be accountable for this? I was not told about any side effects. I have a severe headache, I can’t eat without running to the bathroom with diarrhea, I had hair loss, I have an awful cough, heart pains, blurred vision, and worse bloody nosebleeds, so why can’t something be done."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2021

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "My daughter just finished her 5th 200 mg dose of Venofer. She completed the 5 doses in 21 days. After the first two doses, a slight headache. She drank water and laid down for an hour. The last 3, she said she felt fine. We are just waiting now for the 4 weeks for new labs to be taken."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2023

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "In January 2023, I had this iron injector and was told it was what I had in the past, but it was not. Within three weeks, I had constipation, then chest pain, feeling a lump in my throat, shortness of breath, headache, and back pain that won't go away. Is anyone else having these issues?"