Drug interactions
Carbonyl iron + Deferiprone
Severity: Moderate
Carbonyl iron and Deferiprone: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Deferiprone is an iron chelator and binds iron in the gut and in the body. Taking oral iron together with deferiprone can lead to chelate formation, which reduces absorption of both and blunts the intended effect of each. The combination is also pharmacologically counterproductive in patients being treated for iron overload.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbonyl iron and Deferiprone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Carbonyl iron belongs to Miscellaneous; Deferiprone belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Deferiprone chelates polyvalent cations such as iron in the gastrointestinal tract, forming complexes that are poorly absorbed.
What to do
Separate deferiprone from oral iron by at least 4 hours. Review whether iron supplementation is appropriate in a patient receiving chelation, and monitor ferritin.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Carbonyl iron and Deferiprone, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Carbonyl iron
- Aluminum hydroxide + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Carbonyl iron Moderate
Other interactions of Deferiprone
- Clozapine + Deferiprone Contraindicated
- Abemaciclib + Deferiprone Major
- Acalabrutinib + Deferiprone Major
- Ado-trastuzumab emtansine + Deferiprone Major
- Ado-trastuzumab + Deferiprone Major
- Aldesleukin + Deferiprone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbonyl iron with Deferiprone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbonyl iron and Deferiprone can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Deferiprone is an iron chelator and binds iron in the gut and in the body. Taking oral iron together with deferiprone can lead to chelate formation, which reduces absorption of both and blunts the intended effect of each. The combination is also pharmacologically counterproductive in patients being treated for iron overload.
How serious is the interaction between Carbonyl iron and Deferiprone?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate deferiprone from oral iron by at least 4 hours. Review whether iron supplementation is appropriate in a patient receiving chelation, and monitor ferritin.
What other medicines interact with Carbonyl iron?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Carbonyl iron with, for example, Aluminum hydroxide, Baloxavir marboxil, Calcium acetate. The full list is on the Carbonyl iron page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
