dried ferrous sulfate bp: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm iron deficiency and investigate its cause rather than treating unexplained anaemia indefinitely.
• Exclude coexisting vitamin B12 or folate deficiency where clinically relevant.
• Review gastrointestinal history, previous gastric surgery, ongoing blood loss and concurrent iron products.
• Assess swallowing and aspiration risk; consider another formulation if risk is significant.
• Poor absorption may occur after gastrectomy.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to ferrous sulfate or an excipient
• Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
• Haemochromatosis or haemosiderosis
• Active peptic ulcer
• Repeated blood transfusions
• Regional enteritis or ulcerative colitis
• Haemolytic anaemia
• Concurrent oral and parenteral iron

Monitoring

• Use blood counts and appropriate iron studies to confirm deficiency and assess response.
• Review adherence, absorption, ongoing blood loss and diagnosis if improvement is inadequate.
• Monitor gastrointestinal tolerability, dysphagia, aspiration symptoms and tablet administration.
• Avoid excessive iron accumulation and reassess continuing need.

Clinical pharmacology

Ferrous sulfate supplies absorbable ferrous iron. Absorbed iron binds transferrin and is incorporated into haemoglobin, myoglobin, iron-containing enzymes and storage proteins such as ferritin.

Formulation and product differences

• This product is a white, round, film-coated oral tablet.
• This tablet presentation is not recommended for children.
• It contains aspartame and is essentially sodium-free.
• Tablets must be swallowed whole; people with dysphagia may need an alternative formulation.

Tablet

Route: Oral

Strengths: 200 mg