Brand Name
US Brand Name
Accrufer
Auryxia
Beef,Iron & Wine
Bifera
Elite Iron
Femiron
Feosol
Fergon
Ferrex 150
Hemocyte
Canadian Brand Name
FeraMAX 150
Fer-In-Sol
Palafer
Pms-Ferrous Sulfate
Description
Iron is a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells. When the body does not get enough iron, it cannot produce the number of normal red blood cells needed to keep you in good health. This condition is called iron deficiency (iron shortage) or iron deficiency anemia.
Although many people in the U.S. get enough iron from their diet, some must take additional amounts to meet their needs. For example, iron is sometimes lost with slow or small amounts of bleeding in the body that you would not be aware of and which can only be detected by your doctor. Your doctor can determine if you have an iron deficiency, what is causing the deficiency, and if an iron supplement is necessary.
Lack of iron may lead to unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, a decrease in physical performance, and learning problems in children and adults, and may increase your chance of getting an infection.
Some conditions may increase your need for iron. These include:
- Bleeding problems
- Burns
- Hemodialysis
- Intestinal diseases
- Stomach problems
- Stomach removal
- Use of medicines to increase your red blood cell count
In addition, infants, especially those receiving breast milk or low-iron formulas, may need additional iron.
Increased need for iron supplements should be determined by your health care professional.
Injectable iron is administered only by or under the supervision of your health care professional. Other forms of iron are available without a prescription; however, your health care professional may have special instructions on the proper use and dose for your condition.
Importance Of Diet
For good health, it is important that you eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow carefully any diet program your health care professional may recommend. For your specific dietary vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of appropriate foods. If you think that you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, you may choose to take a dietary supplement.
Iron is found in the diet in two forms—heme iron, which is well absorbed, and nonheme iron, which is poorly absorbed. The best dietary source of absorbable (heme) iron is lean red meat. Chicken, turkey, and fish are also sources of iron, but they contain less than red meat. Cereals, beans, and some vegetables contain poorly absorbed (nonheme) iron. Foods rich in vitamin C (e.g., citrus fruits and fresh vegetables), eaten with small amounts of heme iron-containing foods, such as meat, may increase the amount of nonheme iron absorbed from cereals, beans, and other vegetables. Some foods (e.g., milk, eggs, spinach, fiber-containing, coffee, tea) may decrease the amount of nonheme iron absorbed from foods. Additional iron may be added to food from cooking in iron pots.
The daily amount of iron needed is defined in several different ways.
For U.S.—
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
- Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).
For Canada—
- Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.
Normal daily recommended intakes in milligrams (mg) for iron are generally defined as follows (Note that the RDA and RNI are expressed as an actual amount of iron, which is referred to as “elemental”' iron. The product form [e.g., ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate] has a different strength):
| Persons | U.S. (mg) | Canada (mg) |
| Infants birth to 3 years of age | 6–10 | 0.3–6 |
| Children 4 to 6 years of age | 10 | 8 |
| Children 7 to 10 years of age | 10 | 8–10 |
| Adolescent and adult males | 10 | 8–10 |
| Adolescent and adult females | 10–15 | 8–13 |
| Pregnant females | 30 | 17–22 |
| Breast-feeding females | 15 | 8–13 |
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Solution
- Powder
- Tablet
- Tablet, Chewable
- Capsule
- Tablet, Extended Release
- Tablet, Enteric Coated
- Liquid
- Elixir
- Syrup
- Suspension
- Capsule, Liquid Filled
Before Using
If you are taking a dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For these supplements, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Problems in children have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts. Iron supplements, when prescribed by your health care professional, are not expected to cause different side effects in children than they do in adults. However, it is important to follow the directions carefully, since iron overdose in children is especially dangerous.
Studies on sodium ferric gluconate have shown that this supplement is safe to use in children ages 6 to 15 years. The safety of sodium ferric gluconate has not been determined in patients who are younger than 6 years of age.
Geriatric
Problems in older adults have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts. Elderly people sometimes do not absorb iron as easily as younger adults and may need a larger dose. If you think you need to take an iron supplement, check with your health care professional first. Only your health care professional can decide if you need an iron supplement and how much you should take.
Pregnancy
It is especially important that you are receiving enough vitamins and minerals when you become pregnant and that you continue to receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals throughout your pregnancy. Healthy fetal growth and development depend on a steady supply of nutrients from mother to fetus. During the first 3 months of pregnancy, a proper diet usually provides enough iron. However, during the last 6 months, in order to meet the increased needs of the developing baby, an iron supplement may be recommended by your health care professional.
However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided.
Breastfeeding
It is especially important that you receive the right amounts of vitamins and minerals so that your baby will also get the vitamins and minerals needed to grow properly. Iron normally is present in breast milk in small amounts. When prescribed by a health care professional, iron preparations are not known to cause problems during breast-feeding. However, nursing mothers are advised to check with their health care professional before taking iron supplements or any other medication. Taking large amounts of a dietary supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or infant and should be avoided.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these dietary supplements, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acalabrutinib
- Altretamine
- Amphetamine
- Amygdalin
- Atazanavir
- Baloxavir Marboxil
- Benzphetamine
- Bictegravir
- Cabotegravir
- Capecitabine
- Carbidopa
- Cefuroxime Axetil
- Deferoxamine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Digoxin
- Dimercaprol
- Dolutegravir
- Eltrombopag
- Elvitegravir
- Erdafitinib
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Gefitinib
- Infigratinib
- Isoniazid
- Ketoconazole
- Ledipasvir
- Levodopa
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Methamphetamine
- Methotrexate
- Mycophenolate Mofetil
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Neratinib
- Octreotide
- Pafolacianine
- Pazopanib
- Phenytoin
- Raltegravir
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of dietary supplements in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
- Blood transfusions (with high red blood cell iron content) or
- Kidney infection or
- Liver disease or
- Porphyria cutaneous tarda—Higher blood levels of the iron supplement may occur, which may increase the chance of side effects.
- Arthritis (rheumatoid) or
- Asthma or allergies or
- Heart disease—The injected form of iron may make these conditions worse.
- Colitis or other intestinal problems or
- Iron overload conditions (e.g., hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, hemoglobinopathies) or
- Stomach ulcer—Iron supplements may make these conditions worse.
- Other anemias—Iron supplements may increase iron to toxic levels in anemias not associated with iron deficiency.
Proper Use
After you start using this dietary supplement, continue to return to your health care professional to see if you are benefiting from the iron. Some blood tests may be necessary for this.
Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, with water or fruit juice (adults: full glass or 8 ounces; children: ½ glass or 4 ounces), about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, to lessen the possibility of stomach upset, iron may be taken with food or immediately after meals.
For safe and effective use of iron supplements:
- Follow your health care professional's instructions if this dietary supplement was prescribed.
- Follow the manufacturer's package directions if you are treating yourself. If you think you still need iron after taking it for 1 or 2 months, check with your health care professional.
Liquid forms of iron supplement tend to stain the teeth. To prevent, reduce, or remove these stains:
- Mix each dose in water, fruit juice, or tomato juice. You may use a drinking tube or straw to help keep the iron supplement from getting on the teeth.
- When doses of liquid iron supplement are to be given by dropper, the dose may be placed well back on the tongue and followed with water or juice.
- Iron stains on teeth can usually be removed by brushing with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or medicinal peroxide (hydrogen peroxide 3%).
Dosing
The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets, oral solution):
- To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
For the U.S.
- Adult and teenage males—10 milligrams (mg) per day.
- Adult and teenage females—10 to 15 mg per day.
- Pregnant females—30 mg per day.
- Breast-feeding females—15 mg per day.
- Children 7 to 10 years of age—10 mg per day.
- Children 4 to 6 years of age—10 mg per day.
- Children birth to 3 years of age—6 to 10 mg per day.
For Canada
- Adult and teenage males—8 to 10 mg per day.
- Adult and teenage females—8 to 13 mg per day.
- Pregnant females—17 to 22 mg per day.
- Breast-feeding females—8 to 13 mg per day.
- Children 7 to 10 years of age—8 to 10 mg per day.
- Children 4 to 6 years of age—8 mg per day.
- Children birth to 3 years of age—0.3 to 6 mg per day.
- To treat deficiency:
- Adults, teenagers, and children— The dose will be determined by your doctor, based on your condition.
- To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
- For injection dosage forms:
- Adults, teenagers, and children— The dose will be determined by your doctor, based on your condition.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Precautions
When iron is combined with certain foods it may lose much of its value. If you are taking iron, the following foods should be avoided, or only taken in very small amounts, for at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take iron:
- Cheese and yogurt
- Eggs
- Milk
- Spinach
- Tea or coffee
- Whole-grain breads and cereals and bran
Do not take iron supplements and antacids or calcium supplements at the same time. It is best to space doses of these 2 products 1 to 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each medicine or dietary supplement.
If you are taking iron supplements without a prescription:
- Do not take iron supplements by mouth if you are receiving iron injections. To do so may result in iron poisoning.
- Do not regularly take large amounts of iron for longer than 6 months without checking with your health care professional. People differ in their need for iron, and those with certain medical conditions can gradually become poisoned by taking too much iron over a period of time.
Iron pills can change the color of your stool to a greenish or grayish black. This is normal, but because internal bleeding can also cause dark stool, be sure to mention any color changes to your doctor.
If you think you or anyone else has taken an overdose of iron medicine:
- Call your doctor, a poison control center, or the nearest hospital emergency room at once. Always keep these phone numbers readily available.
- Go to the emergency room without delay
- Take the container of iron with you.
Early signs of iron overdose may not appear for up to 60 minutes or more. Do not delay going to the emergency room while waiting for signs to appear.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Backache , groin, side, or muscle pain
- chest pain
- chills
- dizziness
- fainting
- fast heartbeat
- fever with increased sweating
- flushing
- headache
- metallic taste
- nausea or vomiting
- numbness, pain, or tingling of hands or feet
- pain or redness at injection site
- redness of skin
- skin rash or hives
- swelling of mouth or throat
- troubled breathing
More common
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- cramping (continuing) or soreness
Less common or rare
- Double vision
- general unwell feeling
- weakness without feeling dizzy or faint
Less common or rare
- Chest or throat pain, especially when swallowing
- stools with signs of blood (red or black color)
Early symptoms of iron overdose
Symptoms of iron overdose may not occur for up to 60 minutes or more after the overdose was taken. By this time you should have had emergency room treatment. Do not delay going to emergency room while waiting for signs to appear.
- Diarrhea (may contain blood)
- fever
- nausea
- stomach pain or cramping (sharp)
- vomiting, severe (may contain blood)
Late symptoms of iron overdose
- Bluish-colored lips, fingernails, and palms of hands
- convulsions (seizures)
- pale, clammy skin
- shallow and rapid breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- weak and fast heartbeat
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Constipation
- diarrhea
- leg cramps
- nausea
- vomiting
Less common
- Darkened urine
- heartburn
- stained teeth
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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