Ferrous fumarate is a type of iron. You normally get iron from the foods you eat. In your
body, iron becomes a part of your hemoglobin (HEEM o glo bin) and myoglobin (MY o glo bin).
Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your blood to tissues and organs. Myoglobin helps your
muscle cells store oxygen.
Folic acid helps your body produce and maintain new cells, and also helps prevent
changes to DNA that may lead to cancer.
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid is used to treat iron deficiency anemia (a lack of red blood
cells caused by having too little iron in the body).
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid may also be used for other purposes not listed in this
medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
iron overload syndrome;
hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms
affecting the skin or nervous system);
thalassemia (a genetic disorder of red blood cells);
if you are an alcoholic; or
if you receive regular blood transfusions.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use ferrous
fumarate and folic acid, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests during treatment.
It is not known whether this medication could be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Do not give ferrous fumarate and folic acid to a child younger than 12 years old.
How should I take ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Take ferrous fumarate and folic acid on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2
hours after a meal.
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid is only part of a complete program of treatment that may
also include a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your
doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should
eat to make sure you get enough iron and folic acid from both your diet and your medication.
Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Your pharmacist has information about ferrous fumarate and folic acid written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
sore throat, trouble swallowing;
severe stomach pain; or
blood in your stools.
Less serious side effects may include:
diarrhea;
constipation;
nausea, vomiting, heartburn;
leg pain; or
darkened skin or urine color.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have iron overload syndrome, hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells), porphyria (a genetic
enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system), thalassemia (a
genetic disorder of red blood cells), if you are an alcoholic, or if you receive regular blood
transfusions.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine, or if anyone has accidentally swallowed it.
An overdose of iron can be fatal,
especially in a young child.
Symptoms of a ferrous fumarate and folic acid overdose may include nausea, severe
stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds,
shallow breathing, weak and rapid pulse, pale skin, blue lips, and seizure (convulsions).
Take ferrous fumarate and folic acid on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2
hours after a meal. Avoid taking antacids or antibiotics within 2 hours before or after taking
ferrous fumarate and folic acid.
Ferrous fumarate and folic acid is only part of a complete program of treatment that may
also include a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your
doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should
eat to make sure you get enough iron and folic acid from both your diet and your medication.
What should I avoid while taking ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Do not take any vitamin or mineral supplements that your doctor has not prescribed or
recommended.
Avoid taking an antibiotic medicine within 2 hours before or after you take ferrous
fumarate and folic acid. This is especially important if you are taking an antibiotic such as
ciprofloxacin (Cipro), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea,
Vibramycin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), minocycline (Dynacin,
Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), or tetracycline (Brodspec,
Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).
Certain foods can also make it harder for your body to absorb ferrous fumarate.
Avoid taking this medication within 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating fish, meat, liver, and
whole grain or "fortified" breads or cereals.
Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid
your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it
harder for your body to absorb ferrous fumarate.
What other drugs will affect ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Before using ferrous fumarate and folic acid, tell your doctor if you use any of the
following drugs:
acetohydroxamic acid (Lithostat);
etidronate (Didronel); or
levodopa (Larodopa, Lodosyn);
methyldopa (Aldomet);
penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen);
phenytoin (Dilantin); or
dimercaprol (an injection used to treat poisoning by
arsenic, lead, or mercury).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with ferrous fumarate and folic acid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and
over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and
drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your
doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of ferrous fumarate and folic acid?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
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warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009