Iron supplement

See also: Ferrous sulfate

Iron supplement
Iron supplement from the late 19th and early 20th 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.[9][10] For prevention they are only recommended in those with poor absorption, heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, hemodialysis, or a diet low in iron.[10][11] Prevention may also be used in low birth weight babies.[10] They are taken by mouth, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle.[10] While benefits may be seen in days, up to two months may be required until iron levels return to normal.[12]

Common side effects include constipation, abdominal pain, dark stools, and diarrhea.[12] Other side effects, which may occur with excessive use, include iron overload and iron toxicity.[9][11] Ferrous salts used as supplements by mouth include ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous succinate, and ferrous sulfate.[11] Injectable forms include iron dextran and iron sucrose.[11] They work by providing the iron needed for making red blood cells.[12]

Iron pills have been used medically since at least 1681, with an easy-to-use formulation being created in 1832.[13] Ferrous salt is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[14] Ferrous salts are available as a generic medication and over the counter.[9] Slow release formulations, while available, are not recommended.[10] In 2021, ferrous sulfate was the 105th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6 million prescriptions.[15][16]

  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cosmofer SmPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ferinject SmPC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Injectafer FDA label was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Drug Approval Package: Accrufer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 217. ISBN 9781284057560.
  10. ^ a b c d e British National Formulary: BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 660–664. ISBN 9780857111562.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Upfal J (2006). Australian Drug Guide. Black Inc. pp. 378–379. ISBN 9781863951746. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Ferrous Sulfate - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.