High molecular weight iron dextran, as a representative of 1st generation iron preparations, should no longer be used if possible, as more recent i.v. iron preparations are available with considerably lower risk of serious anaphylactic reactions. Ferrous gluconate and iron sucrose, as representatives of the 2nd generation, are very efficient preparations, but they require frequent visits to the clinic or the doctor, as they may only be administered in low doses because of labile iron complexes. The three 3rd generation parenteral iron formulations have advantages in handling in everyday practice, since they offer comparably good safety profiles, high complex stability and thus the possibility of rapid application of high doses of iron up to the total cumulative dose. Furthermore, test doses are not required with these preparations, which also simplifies their use.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.