Iron supplement
Iron formulation used to prevent or treat iron deficiency anemia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Iron supplement?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Iron supplements, also known as iron salts and iron pills, are a number of iron formulations used to treat and prevent iron deficiency including iron deficiency anemia.[6][7] For prevention they are only recommended in those with poor absorption, heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, hemodialysis, or a diet low in iron.[7][8] Prevention may also be used in low birth weight babies.[7] They are taken by mouth, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle.[7] While benefits may be seen in days, up to two months may be required until iron levels return to normal.[9]
Clinical data | |
---|---|
Trade names | Feosol, Feostat, Feratab, others |
Other names | Iron pills, iron salts, ferrous salts, ferric salts |
AHFS/Drugs.com | |
License data | |
Pregnancy category |
|
Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous, intramuscular |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Identifiers | |
CAS Number | |
ChemSpider |
|
Common side effects include constipation, abdominal pain, dark stools, and diarrhea.[9] Other side effects, which may occur with excessive use, include iron overload and iron toxicity.[6][8] Ferrous salts used as supplements by mouth include ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous succinate, and ferrous sulfate.[8] Injectable forms include iron dextran and iron sucrose.[8] They work by providing the iron needed for making red blood cells.[9]
Iron pills have been used medically since at least 1681, with an easy-to-use formulation being created in 1832.[10] Ferrous salt is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[11] Ferrous salts are available as a generic medication and over the counter.[6] Slow release formulations, while available, are not recommended.[7] In 2021, ferrous sulfate was the 105th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 6 million prescriptions.[12][13]