Iron Supplements, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: ferrous fumarate, oral; ferrous gluconate, oral; ferrous sulfate, oral; iron supplements, oral; iron-polysaccharide, oral; ED-IN-SOL; FE 50; Femiron; Feosol; Feostat; Fer-Gen; Fer-In-Sol; Fer-Iron; Feratab; Fergon; Fero-Gradumet; Ferro-Sequels; Fumasorb; Fumerin; Hemocyte; Hytinic; Ircon; Mol-Iron; Nephro-Fer; Niferex; Niferex 150; Nu-Iron; Slow Fe; Vitron-C

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to supply iron when your body is not getting enough from the food you eat. Your body needs iron to produce red blood cells to prevent or treat anemia (too few red blood cells).

How do I take it?

This medicine usually works best when taken an hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Eating or drinking milk and milk products, eggs, coffee, or tea when you take it reduces its effectiveness. However, you may take this medicine with food if it causes stomach upset.

If you are taking a liquid product, mix it with water or juice and drink it through a straw to avoid getting the medicine on your teeth and staining them.

Do not chew iron tablets or capsules.

What should I watch out for?

Be especially careful to keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Small amounts can poison small children.

Black stools are a common side effect of this medicine, and they are usually harmless. However, if you notice any blood in your stool and you have severe stomach pain or cramps, call your health care provider right away.

If you think you have taken an overdose or if a child has taken this medicine, contact a poison control center right away.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider): Chest pain, painful swallowing, blood in bowel movements, severe stomach cramps, vomiting.

Other: Constipation, diarrhea, dark urine, nausea.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), enoxacin (Penetrex), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), and levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• antacids (take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine)
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in dosages larger than 200 mg
• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet) (take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine)
• levodopa (Larodopa, Dopar, Sinemet) (take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine)
• levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levo-T, Levothroid)
• penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen)
• methyldopa (Aldomet) (take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine)
• tetracycline (take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.