Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Prophylaxis of iron deficiency anaemia
Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia

Contraindications

Children under 6 years
Haemochromatosis
Haemoglobinuria
Haemosiderosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Peptic ulcer
Repeated blood transfusions
Ulcerative colitis

Precautions and Warnings

Elderly
Gastrointestinal diverticula
Gastrointestinal stenosis
Glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome
Haemolytic anaemia
Hereditary fructose intolerance

Exclude non-iron deficiency anaemia
Some formulations contain Ponceau 4R (E124)-may cause allergic reactions
Some formulations contain sucrose
Advise patient stools may be discoloured
Advise patient to take after food to reduce gastro-intestinal disturbances

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

No adverse effects have been reported during pregnancy, at the recommended dose.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

No adverse effects have been reported during breastfeeding at the recommended dose.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Allergic reaction
Anorexia
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Discolouration of stools
Epigastric pain
Faecal impaction
Gastro-intestinal symptoms
Nausea
Vomiting

Presentation

Oral formulations containing ferrous gluconate

Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Prophylaxis of iron deficiency anaemia
Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia

Dosage

Adults

Elderly

Children

Additional Dosage Information

Contraindications

Children under 6 years
Haemochromatosis
Haemoglobinuria
Haemosiderosis
Inflammatory bowel disease
Peptic ulcer
Repeated blood transfusions
Ulcerative colitis

Precautions and Warnings

Elderly
Gastrointestinal diverticula
Gastrointestinal stenosis
Glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome
Haemolytic anaemia
Hereditary fructose intolerance

Exclude non-iron deficiency anaemia
Some formulations contain Ponceau 4R (E124)-may cause allergic reactions
Some formulations contain sucrose
Advise patient stools may be discoloured
Advise patient to take after food to reduce gastro-intestinal disturbances

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

No adverse effects have been reported during pregnancy, at the recommended dose.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14 to 17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

No adverse effects have been reported during breastfeeding at the recommended dose.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Allergic reaction
Anorexia
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Discolouration of stools
Epigastric pain
Faecal impaction
Gastro-intestinal symptoms
Nausea
Vomiting

Overdosage

It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.

The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111

Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Further Information

Last Full Review Date: October 2014

Reference Sources

Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary (online) London: BMJ Group and Pharmaceutical Press. Accessed on 19 September 2014.

Paediatric Formulary Committee. BNF for Children (online) London: BMJ Group, Pharmaceutical Press, and RCPCH Publications. Accessed on 19 September 2014.

Summary of Product Characteristics: Ferrous Gluconate 300mg tablets. Kent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Revised June 2014