ferrous sulfate

Action and Spectrum

Actions and Spectrum: 

• Nutritional supplement: ferrous sulfate is commonly used as a nutritional supplement to prevent or treat iron deficiency anemia.  
• Hematinic: ferrous sulfate is a hematinic agent, meaning it promotes the formation of hemoglobin in the blood.  
• Antianemic: ferrous sulfate is an effective treatment for anemia caused by iron deficiency.  
• Reducing agent: Ferrous sulfate is a good reducing agent, meaning it can transfer electrons to other molecules.  
• Fungicide: ferrous sulfate is used as a fungicide to control fungal infections in crops.  
• Water treatment: ferrous sulfate is used in water treatment to remove impurities such as hydrogen sulfide and other odorous compounds.  
• pH control: ferrous sulfate can be used to lower the pH of soil and water.

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency Not Defined  

Contact irritation  

Dark stools  

Diarrhea  

GI hemorrhage (rare)  

Constipation  

GI obstruction   

GI irritation  

GI perforation (rare)  

Stomach pain  

Nausea  

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning: 

One of the black box warnings associated with ferrous sulfate is related to its potential toxicity in overdose.

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

ferrous sulfate, a type of iron supplement, has some contraindications and cautions that people should be aware of before using it. These include:  

Allergy: ferrous sulfate should not be used if someone is allergic to iron or any other ingredient present in the medication.  

Hemochromatosis: ferrous sulfate should be avoided in people with hemochromatosis, a condition in which the body absorbs too much iron.  

Gastrointestinal problems: ferrous sulfate can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. People with gastrointestinal problems should use it with caution.  

Anemia: ferrous sulfate is used to treat anemia caused by iron deficiency. However, it should not be used in people with anemia caused by a different underlying condition.  

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should use ferrous sulfate only under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as it can cause harm to the fetus or baby.  

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy warnings:     

Pregnancy category: N/A 

Lactation: Excreted into human milk is known 

Pregnancy Categories:         

Category A: Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the fetus in either the first or second trimester. 

Category B: There were lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the foetus in animal experiments.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category

Pharmacology

Pharmacology:  

Ferrous sulfate is a type of iron supplement that is used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anemia. It is a form of iron that is easily absorbed by the body, and is available in different forms, including tablets, capsules, liquid, and injection. 

Pharmacodynamics: 

Ferrous sulfate works by replenishing the iron stores in the body, which are essential for the production of red blood cells. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. When there is a lack of iron in the body, the production of hemoglobin is impaired, resulting in anemia. 

Pharmacokinetics: 

Absorption  

ferrous sulfate is well-absorbed from the small intestine. The absorption is enhanced by the presence of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in the diet. However, ferrous sulfate is affected by the presence of other dietary components such as phytates, tannins, and calcium, which can reduce its absorption.  

Distribution  

It is distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream, with most of the iron being taken up by red blood cells to produce hemoglobin. Ferrous sulfate may also be stored in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.  

Metabolism  

ferrous sulfate is metabolized in the body by the heme and non-heme iron pathways. In the heme pathway, iron is incorporated into heme, a component of hemoglobin. In the non-heme pathway, iron is stored in ferritin or mobilized for other uses.  

Elimination and Excretion  

Excess iron is excreted in the feces, sweat, and urine. However, the body has limited capacity to excrete excess iron, so excess iron accumulation can occur in individuals with certain genetic disorders or chronic iron overload conditions.

Adminstartion

Administration:  

ferrous sulfate is a type of iron supplement used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia. It is available in tablet, capsule, and liquid forms. The following are the guidelines for administering ferrous sulfate:  

• Always follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or pharmacist.  
• Ferrous sulfate is usually taken by mouth with food or just after a meal. This helps to reduce stomach upset.  
• If you are taking a tablet or capsule form of ferrous sulfate, swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet or capsule unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider.  
• If you are taking a liquid form of ferrous sulfate, use a measuring spoon or cup to measure the correct dose. Do not use a regular household spoon, as it may not give the correct dose.

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: ferrous sulfate 

Why do we use ferrous sulfate? 

ferrous sulfate is a type of iron supplement used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, which is a protein in the blood that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. Iron is an essential mineral required to produce hemoglobin.

If the body does not have enough iron, it cannot produce enough hemoglobin, leading to anemia. Ferrous sulfate helps to increase the body’s iron levels, which in turn helps to produce more hemoglobin, thus treating or preventing anemia.