Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We accept referrals from physicians, naturopaths, midwives, and other specialists. Please fax referral forms to 604-608-3447. Vitamin infusions do not require a referral.

Mainline aims to offer new patients a first appointment within one week of receiving the referral.

First appointments, including the infusion, take approximately 1 hour 15 mins. Rare circumstances may require the infusions to run longer.

Typically, clinical improvement starts 3-4 days after your first infusion and should continue until 12-14 days after the infusion(s).

This varies from patient to patient. If the initial cause is addressed, most patients do not require further infusions after iron levels return to normal.

No specific preparation is necessary but wearing warm, comfortable clothing and being well hydrated can help the nursing staff establish an IV.

You do not need to continue taking oral iron supplements unless specifically instructed to by your doctor.

The majority of patients do not experience any side effects. Some patients may get a mild rash or flushing during their infusion. This is usually resolved by slowing the infusion rate. 1 in 10 patients can experience flu-like symptoms, including muscle/joint aches up to several days post-infusion. These are benign and will resolve on their own but the symptoms can improve significantly with over the counter medications. Another small portion of patients may notice their urine will briefly be a darker colour. This is benign and will go away without the need for intervention. Should there be any other specific concerns the Mainline staff are available to consult over the phone.

An ER physician or Nurse Practitioner is present in the clinic for every patient’s first infusion. Infusions are run by ER Registered Nurses.

We offer two types of iron: Iron Sucrose (aka Venofer) and Monoferric. The cost of iron varies and is dependent on the individual patient considering two things:

1. Pharmacare coverage (downloadable form here)*

2. Insurance (fill out this form to find out how much your insurer will cover)

In addition to the iron cost (dependent on Pharmacare and insurance), there is a clinic fee for the IV administration.

For Iron Sucrose, patients often require several doses. These are administered in doses of 200mg-300mg at a cost of $150/infusion. This covers the facility, clinical/administrative staff, and materials.

For Monoferric there is a dispensing fee from the pharmacy. As Monoferric can be administered in one infusion, the one-time clinic fee is $250.

*PharmaCare may request additional documentation to support this Special Authority request. Actual reimbursement is subject to the rules of a patient's PharmaCare plan, including any annual deductible requirement, and to any other applicable PharmaCare pricing policy.

A majority of prescription drug costs are often covered for patients with extended health benefits. Macdonald’s Pharmacy is able to apply your insurance coverage immediately over the phone and patients will simply need to pay any remaining amount.

Fill out this form to find out how much your insurer will cover.

For clinic fees, patients with extended health benefits that include a “Health Spending Account” or “Out of Hospital Nursing Coverage” may be eligible to have some or all of this cost reimbursed as well. Patients should check with their provider first to confirm whether this cost is covered. Mainline will provide patients with all necessary receipts needed to submit a claim.

IV Iron is a safe and effective way to replace iron stores and treat anemia in pregnancy and the post-partum period. Speak with you prenatal care provider to see if IV iron may be a good option for you when oral supplements are ineffective or not tolerated because of side effects. In Canada, Monoferric has not been formally approved for administration in pregnancy but is available for post-partum mothers.