Iron Supplementation
Aka: Iron Supplementation, Iron Replacement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Ferrous Gluconate, Feosol, Fer-In-Sol, Ferrous Fumarate, Hemocyte, Ferric Compounds
II. Indications
III. Precautions
- Iron supplements in overdosage may be lethal in children (FDA black box warning)
- See Iron Ingestion
- Ferrous Sulfate and Ferrous Fumarate are preferred preparations
- Delivers highest elemental iron amounts
- Ferrous Gluconate supplies only 50% of the elemntal iron
- Formulations with risk of lower iron absorption
- Extended release or enteric coated iron formulations
- Formulations with no evidence of benefit
- Polysaccharide-iron complex (e.g. Ferrex 150)
- Carbonyl iron (ICAR)
- Heme Iron Polypeptide (Proferrin ES)
- References
- (2017) Presc Lett 24(3)
IV. Preparations
- Ferrous Sulfate (FeSO4)
- Ferrous Fumarate
- Elemental Iron: 106 mg per 325 mg tablet (or 29.5 mg per 90 mg tablet)
- Ferrous Gluconate (Fergon)
- Iron Dextran (Imferon)
- See Parenteral Iron
V. Dosing
- General Anemia management (adults)
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg orally daily (65 to 100 mg elemental iron daily)
- Postpartum Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Hemoglobin 7-9
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg PO tid
- Hemoglobin 9-10
- Ferrous Sulfate 325mg PO bid
- Hemoglobin >10
- Ferrous Sulfate 325mg PO qd
- Hemoglobin 7-9
- Pediatric Anemia
- Severe Pediatric Anemia
- Ferrous Sulfate 4-6 mg/kg/day PO tid
- Mild Pediatric Anemia or Prophylaxis
- Ferrous Sulfate 1-2 mg/kg/day PO qd-bid
- Overall daily dietary requirements (or supplementation) in non-anemic children
- Preterm Infants (born <37 weeks) age <12 months
- Term infants age <12 months
- Children age 1 to 3 years
- Requirement: 7 mg/day elemental iron total via diet or supplementation
- Children age 4 to 8 years
- Requirement: 10 mg/day elemental iron total via diet or supplementation
- Severe Pediatric Anemia
VI. Drug Interactions
- Food and drugs reducing iron absorption
- Antacids (raise pH, low acidity)
- Tums, Maalox, or Mylanta
- Histamine H2 Receptor Blockers (e.g. Ranitidine)
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (e.g. Prilosec)
- Inhibitors of iron absorption
- Polyphenol (in vegetables)
- Tannins (in tea)
- Phytate (in bran, cereal)
- Calcium (dairy products)
- Antacids (raise pH, low acidity)
- Drugs increasing iron absorption
- Drugs with decreased absorption when taken with iron
VII. Adverse Effects
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Ferrous iron causes mucosal irritation
- Start with once daily dosing and titrate to two to three times daily if needed
- Tolerance is directly related to iron concentration
- Start with normal concentration elemental iron
- Decrease to lower concentrations as needed
- Lower elemental iron concentration better tolerated
- Ferrous Gluconate
- More expensive iron preparations
- Consider 15 mg elemental iron liquid dissolved in orange juice
- Start with normal concentration elemental iron
- Enteric coated Iron has decreased absorption
- Liquid formulations may be better tolerated
- Black stools
- Hemochromatosis
- Prolonged, excessive Iron Supplementation