Ferrous Sulphate

Ferrous Sulphate is a iron supplement (anti-anaemic) medicine available in Bangladesh under many brand names. Below are its uses, dosage, side effects and precautions — and all brands with their current prices.

Ferrous Sulphate is used for:

• Treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia — due to poor dietary intake, blood loss (heavy periods, piles, hookworm), or increased demand
• Prevention of iron deficiency — in pregnancy and breastfeeding, adolescent girls, frequent blood donors and growing children, as advised
• Recovery after blood loss — surgery, childbirth or injury, when the doctor recommends iron

Anaemia has many causes, so it is best to confirm iron deficiency with a doctor before long-term use.

Adults (treatment): a commonly used dose of Ferrous Sulphate is one tablet (typically 200 mg ferrous sulphate, about 60–65 mg elemental iron) once to three times daily, as the doctor advises. Prevention usually needs only once daily.

• Iron absorbs best on an empty stomach, but if it upsets your stomach, take it after a small meal.
• Keep a 2-hour gap from tea, coffee, milk, antacids and calcium — they block absorption. Vitamin C (lemon, guava, amla, orange) helps absorption.
• Treatment usually continues for about 3 months after haemoglobin becomes normal to refill iron stores — your doctor decides the duration.
• Children: dose strictly by the doctor, based on weight; use drops/syrup as directed.

Common, usually harmless effects of Ferrous Sulphate include:

• Black or dark stools — this is normal with iron and not a cause for alarm
• Nausea, stomach discomfort or heartburn
• Constipation, or sometimes loose stools
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Temporary staining of teeth with liquid forms (use a straw and rinse the mouth)

Taking the dose with a little food, increasing fluids and fibre, or splitting the dose usually helps. However, black stools with severe stomach pain, vomiting of blood, or sticky tar-like stools with weakness need urgent medical review.

• Keep strictly out of children's reach — accidental iron overdose is one of the most dangerous poisonings in young children. If a child swallows iron tablets, go to a hospital immediately.
• Do not take iron long term without confirming iron deficiency — anaemia can have other causes (e.g., thalassaemia, chronic disease) where extra iron may be harmful.
• Tell your doctor if you have ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, repeated blood transfusions, thalassaemia or liver disease.
• Keep a 2-hour gap from tea, coffee, milk, calcium and antacids.
• Remember black stools are expected — but report severe abdominal symptoms.
• If haemoglobin does not improve after 3–4 weeks, see your doctor to look for the underlying cause (e.g., bleeding, worms).

Ferrous Sulphate interacts with several medicines and foods:

• Tea, coffee, milk and calcium — strongly reduce iron absorption; keep a 2-hour gap.
• Antacids and acid-reducing medicines (omeprazole group) — reduce absorption.
• Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin) — iron blocks their absorption too; separate by 2–4 hours.
• Levothyroxine — absorption reduced; take at least 4 hours apart.
• Vitamin C — improves iron absorption (helpful interaction).
• Other iron-containing multivitamins — avoid unintentional doubling.

• Known allergy to Ferrous Sulphate or any component of the preparation
• Iron-overload conditions — haemochromatosis, haemosiderosis
• Anaemia that is not due to iron deficiency (e.g., thalassaemia without deficiency, haemolytic anaemia) unless the doctor confirms a deficiency
• Patients receiving repeated blood transfusions — only on specialist advice
• Active peptic ulcer or inflammatory bowel disease flare — use with medical guidance

Iron is commonly recommended in pregnancy, when the body's demand rises sharply; Ferrous Sulphate is widely used and considered safe at recommended doses, often together with folic acid as part of antenatal care. It is also safe during breastfeeding at usual doses. Even so, take Ferrous Sulphate in pregnancy according to your doctor's advice, and avoid taking multiple iron products at the same time.

Store Ferrous Sulphate below 30°C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture. Iron tablets can look like sweets to children — keep them tightly closed and strictly out of children's reach. Do not use after the expiry date.