Comprehensive medication guide to Venofer including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 for most hemodialysis patients (bundled under Medicare Part B ESRD payment); $0–$50 copay for non-dialysis CKD patients on Medicare Part B after the annual deductible, depending on Medigap coverage. Private insurance covers Venofer under the medical benefit; patient coinsurance typically 10–20% of the approved amount after deductible.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$325 retail for a 25 mL supply (approximately one 100–200 mg infusion dose's worth of product); up to $869 for a 5-vial, 10 mL quantity. Venofer is purchased by infusion centers and dialysis facilities, not dispensed at retail pharmacies — actual patient cost depends on setting and insurance.
Medfinder Findability Score
72/100
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Venofer is the brand name for iron sucrose injection, USP — a sterile intravenous (IV) iron replacement product manufactured by American Regent, Inc. under license from Vifor International Inc. in Switzerland. FDA-approved since 2000, Venofer is one of the most widely used IV iron products in the United States.
Venofer is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those on hemodialysis, non-dialysis-dependent CKD, and peritoneal dialysis-dependent CKD. It is available in single-dose vials of 50 mg (2.5 mL), 100 mg (5 mL), and 200 mg (10 mL) of elemental iron at a concentration of 20 mg/mL.
Because Venofer is administered intravenously and must be given by a healthcare professional, it is not dispensed at retail pharmacies. It is stocked and administered at dialysis centers, hospital outpatient infusion suites, and physician office infusion programs. A generic version of iron sucrose injection is FDA-approved and considered therapeutically equivalent to brand-name Venofer.
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Venofer is an aqueous complex of poly-nuclear iron (III)-hydroxide in sucrose. When administered intravenously, the iron-sucrose complex is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (macrophages in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow), which dissociates the complex into iron and sucrose. The released iron binds to transferrin — the body's iron transport protein — which carries it to target cells.
Transferrin delivers the iron to erythroid precursor cells in the bone marrow, where it is incorporated into heme — the iron-containing component of hemoglobin. As erythroid precursors mature into red blood cells, hemoglobin is assembled with the newly delivered iron, increasing the red blood cells' oxygen-carrying capacity. This is why Venofer effectively treats the fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath associated with iron deficiency anemia.
By bypassing the digestive system, Venofer avoids the barriers that make oral iron ineffective in many CKD patients — particularly elevated hepcidin levels that block intestinal iron absorption. The iron has an elimination half-life of approximately 6 hours, and transferrin saturation values rise rapidly after infusion; iron studies should not be drawn for at least 48 hours post-dose.
50 mg elemental iron — IV injection (2.5 mL single-dose vial)
20 mg/mL; for partial or pediatric maintenance doses
100 mg elemental iron — IV injection (5 mL single-dose vial)
20 mg/mL; standard dose for hemodialysis patients per session
200 mg elemental iron — IV injection (10 mL single-dose vial)
20 mg/mL; standard dose for non-dialysis CKD patients
As of 2026, Venofer is generally available. The product was on allocation from June to November 2024 — its first significant supply disruption in 25 years of market availability — but that allocation has been resolved and supply levels are normal. Venofer's findability score of 72 reflects its generally good availability with some historical vulnerability to localized supply gaps.
Because Venofer is administered at dialysis centers and infusion clinics — not retail pharmacies — patients cannot simply "shop around" at pharmacies the way they can for oral medications. Availability is facility-specific and depends on each center's distributor relationship and ordering patterns. Individual facilities may experience temporary stocking gaps even when there is no nationwide shortage.
If you're having trouble finding Venofer at your usual infusion center, medfinder calls infusion providers and pharmacies near you to check which ones have iron sucrose in stock — saving you hours of phone calls.
Venofer (iron sucrose injection) is not a controlled substance and does not require a DEA license to prescribe. Any licensed physician, nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA) with prescribing authority can order Venofer for a patient with an appropriate diagnosis. The following specialties are the most common prescribers of IV iron:
Nephrologists — Primary prescribers; manage CKD and anemia of CKD
Hematologists — For iron deficiency anemia from blood disorders, cancer treatment, or bone marrow conditions
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — May prescribe for patients unable to tolerate oral iron; often refer to specialist for infusion
Gastroenterologists — Prescribe off-label for IBD patients with iron malabsorption
OB-GYNs — Prescribe off-label for severe iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy when oral iron is insufficient
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants — In nephrology and infusion practices, NPs and PAs frequently manage and prescribe IV iron independently
Telehealth is available for evaluation and prescription — a telehealth nephrologist or specialist can assess your lab work (ferritin, TSAT, hemoglobin, creatinine) and write a prescription for Venofer to be administered at a local infusion facility. The actual infusion must be given in person at a dialysis center, hospital infusion suite, or physician office.
No. Venofer (iron sucrose injection) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). It requires a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber, but there are no restrictions on refill frequency, quantity limits, or pharmacy reporting requirements associated with DEA scheduling.
Any licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant with prescribing authority can write an order for Venofer without special DEA authorization. The primary prescribers are nephrologists, hematologists, and other specialists managing CKD-related anemia.
In clinical trials involving hemodialysis patients, the most common adverse reactions were:
Hypotension (low blood pressure) — 39.4%
Muscle cramps — 29.4%
Nausea — 14.7%
Headache — 12.6%
Vomiting — 9.1%
Dizziness — 6.5%
Chest pain, diarrhea, injection site reactions, pruritus (itching), peripheral edema
Seek emergency care immediately if you experience any of the following:
Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic-type reactions (hives, difficulty breathing, throat swelling) — rare but potentially fatal
Angioedema (rapid swelling of face, lips, or throat)
Severe hypotension or cardiovascular collapse
Bronchospasm (sudden severe wheezing or difficulty breathing)
Hemosiderosis (iron overload from excessive dosing) — monitor ferritin and TSAT regularly
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Ferrlecit (sodium ferric gluconate)
125 mg IV per dialysis session; approved for HDD-CKD patients on ESA therapy; similar safety profile to Venofer; typically no prior auth required
Feraheme (ferumoxytol)
510 mg IV x2 doses 3–8 days apart; broader IDA indication; fewer infusion visits; higher cost and usually requires prior authorization
Injectafer (ferric carboxymaltose)
750 mg IV x2 doses (or single dose); approved for NDD-CKD and heart failure-related IDA; fewer visits; requires prior auth; most expensive option
INFeD (low molecular weight iron dextran)
1,000 mg as a single total-dose infusion; requires test dose; higher anaphylaxis risk; reserved for patients unable to tolerate other IV iron formulations
Generic Iron Sucrose Injection
Therapeutically equivalent to brand-name Venofer per FDA; same dosing and clinical profile; often less expensive; widely used at dialysis centers
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Oral iron supplements (ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate)
moderateVenofer reduces absorption of concurrent oral iron preparations. Avoid unnecessary oral iron supplementation during IV iron therapy.
Baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza)
majorIron can reduce baloxavir absorption via cation binding in GI tract. Avoid concurrent oral iron use when taking baloxavir.
Ciprofloxacin and fluoroquinolone antibiotics
majorOral iron reduces fluoroquinolone absorption by up to 90%. Separate oral iron from fluoroquinolones by at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after.
Tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, tetracycline, oxytetracycline)
majorOral iron significantly reduces tetracycline absorption via chelation. Avoid concurrent oral iron or separate doses by 2–3 hours.
Eltrombopag (Promacta)
majorIron reduces eltrombopag absorption. Separate all iron products from eltrombopag by at least 4 hours.
Mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic)
majorOral iron reduces mycophenolate absorption. Important for kidney transplant patients; separate oral iron from mycophenolate doses.
ACE inhibitors (benazepril, lisinopril)
minorMinor pharmacodynamic synergism may increase hypotension risk. Monitor blood pressure during Venofer infusions in patients on ACE inhibitors.
Proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole)
moderateMay reduce oral iron absorption by increasing gastric pH. Relevant if patient is also taking oral iron supplements.
Venofer (iron sucrose injection) has been a cornerstone of iron deficiency anemia management in CKD for over 25 years. Its well-established safety profile, predictable dosing, broad insurance coverage, and the availability of a therapeutically equivalent generic make it the standard first-line IV iron choice for most CKD patients — including both hemodialysis and non-dialysis-dependent patients.
The 2024 allocation period was a reminder that even well-established specialty medications can face supply disruptions. Patients who understand their treatment options — including generic iron sucrose and other IV iron alternatives — and who have proactive relationships with their care teams are best positioned to protect their treatment continuity during such events.
If you're struggling to find Venofer or iron sucrose in stock at your infusion center, medfinder can help. medfinder calls infusion providers and pharmacies near you to find which ones have your medication available — texting you the results so you can get treatment without the runaround.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
Real-time availability
Medfinder is actively checking pharmacy inventory for Venofer. We don't publish a number until we have enough verified pharmacy checks to be accurate — start a search and our team confirms current availability near you, usually within 24 hours.
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