Iron-dextran is an anti-anemia drug. Iron is the main component of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin is the main oxygen carrier in red blood cells. Myoglobin is the site where muscle cells store oxygen for oxygen demand during muscle exercise.
Ferric dextran is a complex of iron and dextran in solution intended for injection. After intramuscular injection, part of the iron is engulfed by macrophages into fibroblasts, and the rest of the iron is slowly removed (about 50% at 72 hours) and transferred to plasma through lymph. Its absorption route is not controlled by the gastrointestinal tract, so the storage of iron is faster and recovers completely. However, hemoglobin still rises at the same rate as oral preparations.