Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Feosol as follows:
- Feosol must be avoided or administered with extreme caution in individuals with history of hemochromatosis, an inherited condition that results in the body absorbing dietary iron in significantly large amounts than normal. Excess of dietary iron absorbed results in iron overload and accumulation in various vital organs, such as, nervous tissues, liver, skin, pancreas, and heart, leading to the symptoms of tissue iron toxicity. This results in compromised organ function and debility. Toxic iron overload and accumulation in the liver can result in long-term changes like chronic abdominal pain, hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. Iron overload and accumulation in the heart can result in arrhythmias and congestive heart failure. Deposition of iron in the pancreas can lead to inflammation of pancreas, deficient secretion of digestive pancreatic enzymes with compromised digestion and overall metabolism, and reduced insulin secretion, leading to diabetes. Accumulation of iron in nervous tissues can result in neuropathy with pain, altered sensation, and tingling and numbness in the extremities. Individuals with iron accumulation in the nervous tissues can also present with altered cognition, reduced memory, episodes of confusion and loss of consciousness, and in severe cases can result in seizures. Administering Feosol in these individuals can worsen the toxicity with iron overload.
- Feosol must be avoided or administered with extreme caution in individuals with prolonged history of multiple blood transfusions. Individuals with this history can also present with iron overload and accumulation of iron in various vital organs, leading to the symptoms of tissue iron toxicity. Also, individuals with history of taking feosol in excess to their prescribed amount have the risk for iron overload and toxicity. Administering Feosol in these individuals can worsen the toxicity with iron overload.
