FERROUS SALT + FOLIC ACID

Anti-anaemia medicine containing ferrous salt and folic acid

Dosage Forms

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Tablet

Ferrous sulphate/fumarate 150-200 mg equivalent to 60 mg iron + 250-400 μg folic acid

Uses

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  • Prevention of anaemia in pregnancy
  • Prevention of anaemia in malnutrition
  • Treatment of anaemia

Dose and Duration

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Prevention of anaemia in pregnancy
Adult: 1 tablet once daily throughout pregnancy
Prevention of anaemia in malnutrition
1 tablet once daily for 3 months
Treatment of anaemia (in combination with folic acid tablets)
1 tablet once daily for 4 months

Contraindications

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  • Accumulation of iron in the body tissues and organs
  • Anaemia not caused by iron deficiency (e.g. sickle cell anaemia)
  • Patients receiving repeated blood transfusions

Side Effects

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  • Constipation, stomach upset
  • Makes stool black
  • Staining of teeth
  • Accumulation of iron in the body

Interactions

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  • Same as for ferrous salt

Patient Instructions

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  • Take 2 hours apart from milk, magnesium trisilicate compound, calcium, zinc, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline
  • Take with food to reduce side effects such as nausea and gastric irritation
  • Compliance is very important for pregnant women as anaemia can affect the proper development of the baby and lead to poor health or death of the mother

Pregnancy

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  • Can be used

Breast-feeding

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  • Can be used

⚠️ Caution

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  • Ensure expectant mother has at least 3-month supply of ferrous salt and folic acid
  • The fixed dose combination formulation is not sufficient for the treatment of folic acid deficiency as it has very low dose (400 micrograms only). Use the folic acid 5 mg tablets instead
  • Signs of overdose: bloody diarrhoea and heart failure