- Deferoxamine (parenterally administered)
- Deferasirox (orally administered)
- Deferiprone (orally administered)
Comparison table
| Parameter | Deferoxamine | Deferasirox | Deferiprone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route of administration | IV, SC | Oral | Oral |
| Typical dose | 30-60 mg/kg/day 5-7 days/week over 8-12 hours/day | 20-40 mg/kg once daily for dispersible tablet; 14-28 mg/kg/day for film-coated tablet or granules | 75 mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses (up to 99 mg/kg/day) |
| Half-life | 20 minutes | 8-16 hours (allows once daily dosing) | 1-3 hours |
| Major side effects | Infusion reactions, auditory and ophthalmologic effects, hypersensitivity reactions | Gastrointestinal symptoms, skin rash, transaminitis, renal dysfunction | Gastrointestinal symptoms, transaminitis, neutropenia, arthropathy |
| Pros | Available since 1970s, therefore well studied, only chelating drug acceptable in pregnancy | Oral administration, once daily | Oral administration |
| Cons | Inconvenience of parenteral administration, poor compliance | Cost | 3 divided doses (vs. once daily for deferasirox), weekly blood monitoring |