Iron supplements are used to treat or prevent low levels of iron in your blood (iron deficiency). They increase the amount of iron stores in your body. Most people get enough iron from a healthy, balanced diet. However, some people may need iron supplementation, such as:
- pregnant women or teenage girls, who have higher iron requirements
- those who do not absorb iron normally, such as people with renal failure or gut problems that cause malabsorption
- anyone with ongoing or excessive blood loss, such as in women with heavy periods (menorrhagia).
Some babies and children may need iron supplements. Read more about iron supplements for babies and children.
If you have low iron levels, your doctor may prescribe, or your pharmacist may recommend, iron supplements to be taken by mouth (called oral iron supplements). In certain circumstances if oral iron supplements are not effective (that is, if they cannot be absorbed from your gut) or if they cannot be tolerated, iron supplements can be given by injection. Read more about iron injection.
Iron supplements are also called:
- Ferrous sulfate
- Ferrous fumarate
- Ferodan®
- Ferro-Liquid®
- Ferro-Tab®
- Ferro-F Tab®
- Ferrograd
- Ferrograd C®
- Ferro-Gradumet®
Note: Iron supplements should not be used by people with haemochromatosis, a rare condition that occurs when too much iron builds up in the body. The excess iron can cause damage to their organs. |
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