Ferrous Fumarate
Ferrous Fumarate and Folic Acid Tablets. Anemic girls at Kanera Girls High School in Gujarat, India received Albendazole and Autrin Ferrous Fumarate combination tablets to treat iron deficiency anemia (IDA). After treatment, the hemoglobin levels of these girls increased.
In addition, this study provides evidence that a combined approach of deworming and oral iron therapy can be effective for combatting IDA in rural Indian villages.[1]
What is ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets are iron and vitamin B12 supplements. They are used to treat anemia in pregnant women and girls whose diets don’t contain enough iron. They are also used to treat iron deficiency anemia in children. They are given at night.
The chemical form of iron in prenatal supplement products varied significantly, according to our examination of 148 nonprescription and 101 prescription supplement products using the National Institutes of Health’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) or DailyMed. The chemical forms of iron in these products included carbonyl or elemental iron, amino acid chelates, and 25% other chemical forms. Ferrous fumarate was the preferred chemical form of iron in these products. It has the lowest cost of a source of iron and is widely available.[2]
Before taking this medicine
To treat iron deficiency, give ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets to dogs and cats. Smaller breeds may need less than 1 tablet; medium and large breeds may need 2 to 4 tablets daily. You can give the medicine from the hand, or crumble it and mix it into your dog’s food. The folic acid is best absorbed when taken at bedtime. Gastrointestinal side effects of folic acid are typically mild and subside with continued use.[3]
How should I take ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets should be taken on an empty stomach. They should not be given during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The dosage should be increased gradually over time and may be administered at bedtime or with a meal. If gastrointestinal side effects occur, they usually go away with continued therapy. If you experience any problems, talk to your veterinarian.[4]
In a 2015 Cochrane review, 61 studies were reviewed. The chemical forms of iron included in these studies were 59% ferrous sulfate, 10% ferrous fumarate, and 21% other or unspecified. The study found that the supplements were effective in preventing iron deficiency anemia and improving vitamin B12 status.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets are best taken at bedtime. If you miss a dose, it may take longer for your body to absorb this medicine. This is especially true if you have been taking this medicine for a long time. If you miss a dose of this medicine, talk to your doctor right away. The missed dose will be replaced with another one. If you are pregnant, discuss with your doctor how this medicine will affect your pregnancy.[5]
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid side effects
Iron deficiency anemia is a major health problem in India, especially among adolescents. A recent study conducted at Kanera Girls High School, located in rural Gujarat, India, demonstrates that oral treatment with Albendazole and Autrin Ferrous Fumarate combination tablets leads to dramatic increases in hemoglobin levels in 10th and 12th grade girls. This finding holds promise for a larger scale statewide response to this issue, and more research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of such an intervention.[6]
NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed examined 148 nonprescription and 101 prescription prenatal supplements that contained elemental iron. These products ranged in labeled amount of iron per serving from 9 to 60 mg and 4.5 to 106 mg, respectively. Compared with other chemical forms of iron, ferrous fumarate was the preferred form used in the nonprescription and prescription supplements reviewed. The majority of the clinical trials in the Cochrane review evaluating daily oral iron supplements for pregnant women were done using ferrous fumarate and folic acid.[7]
Ferrous Fumarate and Folic Acid Tablets
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets are iron-containing prenatal supplements. They have been approved by the FDA to treat anemia in pregnant women.
We examined the labeled amount of elemental iron in 148 nonprescription and 101 prescription iron-containing prenatal supplement products listed in the NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed. The chemical form of iron varied, but most products used ferrous fumarate.[8]
What is ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets are dietary supplements that contain iron. They are also a source of folic acid and other nutrients. These products are not for use by pregnant women or breastfeeding infants. The amount of elemental iron in these supplements varies, according to the product labels in the NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed. These supplements are usually made from the chemical forms of ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate, and may contain other iron-containing products.[9]
How should I take ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets are given to pregnant women as a dietary supplement. They should be given at bedtime to ensure a full dose. If the patient is not able to take the tablets at bedtime, they may be administered with food. Side effects are usually mild and resolve with continued use. Gastrointestinal discomfort and constipation have been reported in some patients taking this product; however, they are not common. Consult your healthcare provider before starting this dietary supplement.[10]
Our review of the labeling of prenatal supplements in NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed found that the labeled amounts of iron varied between 9 and 60 mg/serving in 148 nonprescription products and between 4.5 and 106 mg/serving in 101 prescription products. Most of these products contained iron in the chemical forms of ferrous sulfate, 10% ferrous fumarate, and 10% ferrous gluconate.[11]
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of ferrous fumarate and folic acid tablets, take the next tablet with your next meal. This helps the iron absorb better into your body. Side effects such as gastrointestinal upset may occur; these are generally mild and subside when you continue to take the supplement.[12]
Our examination of 148 nonprescription and 101 prescription iron-containing prenatal supplements in NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed found that the chemical forms used to provide iron varied. Ferrous fumarate was the most common form, followed by amino acid chelates and carbonyl or elemental iron.[13]
Where can I get more information?
There is more information about ferrous fumarate and folic acid at the NIH’s Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) and DailyMed. The DSLD and DailyMed list 148 nonprescription and 101 prescription prenatal supplement products that contain iron, including some in a form other than ferrous fumarate.[14] These include amino acid chelates and carbonyl or elemental iron. 21% of the supplements contained other chemical forms or did not specify what form of iron was used. It is important to get information from your health care provider before taking any dietary supplements.[15]
