Iron supplement

See also: Ferrous sulfate

Iron supplement
Iron supplement from the late 19th and early 2 century
Clinical data
Trade namesFeosol, Feostat, Feratab, others
Other namesIron pills, iron salts, ferrous salts, ferric salts
AHFS/Drugs.com
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration		By mouth, intravenous, intramuscular
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
ChemSpider
  • None

Iron supplements, also known as iron salts and iron pills, are a number of iron formulations used to treat and prevent iron deficiency including iron deficiency anemia.[11][12] For prevention they are only recommended in those with poor absorption, heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, hemodialysis, or a diet low in iron.[12][13] Prevention may also be used in low birth weight babies.[12] They are taken by mouth, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle.[12] While benefits may be seen in days, up to two months may be required until iron levels return to normal.[14]

Common side effects include constipation, abdominal pain, dark stools, and diarrhea.[14] Other side effects, which may occur with excessive use, include iron overload and iron toxicity.[11][13] Ferrous salts used as supplements by mouth include ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous succinate, and ferrous sulfate.[13] Injectable forms include iron dextran and iron sucrose.[13] They work by providing the iron needed for making red blood cells.[14]

Iron pills have been used medically since at least 1681, with an easy-to-use formulation being created in 1832.[15] Ferrous salt is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[16] Ferrous salts are available as a generic medication and over the counter.[11] Slow release formulations, while available, are not recommended.[12] In 2021, ferrous sulfate was the 105th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6 million prescriptions.[17][18]

  1. ^ "Ferinject Product information". Health Canada. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Health product highlights 2021: Annexes of products approved in 2021". Health Canada. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Summary Basis of Decision for Ferinject". Health Canada. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Notice: Multiple additions to the Prescription Drug List (PDL) [2024-10-18]". Health Canada. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  5. ^ "About ferrous fumarate". NHS.UK. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ "About ferrous sulfate". NHS.UK. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cosmofer SmPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ferinject SmPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Injectafer FDA label was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Drug Approval Package: Accrufer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b c Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 217. ISBN 9781284057560.
  12. ^ a b c d e British National Formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 660–664. ISBN 9780857111562.
  13. ^ a b c d World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 247–250. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  14. ^ a b c "Iron Preparations, Oral". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  15. ^ Upfal J (2006). Australian Drug Guide. Black Inc. pp. 378–379. ISBN 9781863951746. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  16. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
  17. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Ferrous Sulfate - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.