Medication guide
Ferrous Sulfate / Ferrous Gluconate
- Generic name
- Ferrous Sulfate / Ferrous Gluconate
- Common brand names
- Feosol, Fergon, Slow Fe
- Medication class
- Oral iron supplement
Overview
Its medication class is Oral iron supplement. Common uses include Iron deficiency prevention/treatment. Product forms and labels can differ, so follow the specific package instructions and ask a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional about individual questions.
How to Take it
- Route
- Oral tablet/capsule/lozenge/systemic.
- Time of day
- Usually once daily with a main meal for better tolerance/absorption.
- With food/water
- Take with full water (120–240 mL), often with food if GI upset occurs.
- Preparation
- Swallow intact; keep consistent with meals and separate from interacting minerals when relevant.
- Safe dose
- Follow label age and indication-specific dose.
- Max dose
- Do not stack with other products containing the same active.
- Frequency
- As labeled, typically once daily or as-needed short courses.
- Other recommendations
- Check interactions with prescription medicines; monitor bowel or sleep changes.
Common uses
- Iron deficiency prevention/treatment
Common side effects
- Constipation
- nausea
- stomach cramps
- metallic taste
- dark stools
- and diarrhea
Important warnings
- Keep out of children due lethal overdose risk. Take separately from antacids/calcium and with guidance in inflammatory bowel disease. Severe constipation, vomiting, black stool, and persistent abdominal pain need medical reassessment to distinguish iron effects from bleeding.
General interactions information
Reduced absorption with calcium, antacids, thyroid medicines; improved by vitamin C
Sources / references
- Iron Supplements — MedlinePlus
U.S. National Library of Medicine
These references offer further reading. A source link does not establish that a clinician has reviewed every statement in this guide.
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