Patients with iron deficiency can use the ferrous sulfate supplement on their diet. Read on this article to know about the ferrous sulfate usage and also its side effects. It provides the iron needed by the body as it helps in the red blood cells production. Iron deficiency problems such as anemia is prevented or treated with Ferrous sulfate or otherwise called iron sulfate. Iron deficiency can also be caused by pregnancy, when a person’s diet lacks nutrients such as iron, or when there had been excessive bleeding and other health problems.
We get our iron from foods that we consume. It gets absorbed by the body and adds to the hemoglobin and myoglobin of the blood. The hemoglobin is what is in charge of carrying oxygen to different organs in the body as well as tissues while the myoglobin helps by aiding the cells of the muscles to store oxygen. When the body is deficient in iron then that’s the time you would need the ferrous sulfate supplement to compensate the lack of iron. This will ensure that your body’s tissues, cells and organs get enough oxygen.

Before taking ferrous sulfate

You must first ask your doctor or even a pharmacist if it’s safe for your specific health condition to take this supplement. You must learn about the iron overload syndrome, porphyria, hemolytic anemia, thalassemia and other conditions. You must also consider if you’re alcoholic or if you are receiving blood transfusions regularly. If you are pregnant, you must tell your doctor right away if you are on a ferrous sulfate treatment, same applies when you are breastfeeding. It’s still not known if this could affect the unborn child or the breast-fed baby. Don’t give your child ferrous sulfate without asking your doctor first.

How to Take Ferrous Sulfate

Iron sulfate comes in the form of a pill, capsule or as syrup and must be taken as the doctor prescribed. Normally, you take the pill 2 hours after a meal or an hour before your meal with one glass of water. If you are taking antibiotics or antacids, this could cause a reaction with the ferrous sulfate so you must not take them together. The tablet or capsule Ferrous sulfate should be swallowed and not chewed. If you are taking the syrup form, make sure you shake the bottle first. Measure the correct dosage as what your doctor prescribed.
Your body’s iron needs can’t be met by the Ferrous sulfate supplement alone. You still need to consume foods that are rich in iron. Green leafy vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, and broccoli as well as brown rice and legumes are great sources. Chicken, seafoods, and liver are also iron-rich.

Ferrous Sulfate Side Effects

Some people are not suited to take Ferrous sulfate as it can cause some side effects to them. Side effects that some people experience are allergic reactions with a skin rash and itching, face swelling, mouth and lip swelling, nail color change as well as lips and palm discoloration that normally turn bluish. When a person consume Ferrous sulfate drugs, their stools would usually turn very dark or looks like you are excreting black stools. This is because of the iron. Ferrous sulfate may also make drinking water or swallowing foods difficult as the throat can get quite painful. Person taking it may also feel quite tired or sleepy at certain times. Side effects may also include vomiting, stomach pain and indigestion. Some dangerous side effects include causing irregular heartbeats and seizures. Diarrhea, bloody stools, and breathing difficulty are also side effects of ferrous sulfate overdose.

What other drugs affect ferrous sulfate?

You must inform your doctor if you are taking these other medications such as Lithostat or acetohydroxamic acid, chloramphenicol, tagamet or cimetidine, didronel or etidronate, aldomet or methyldopa, cuprimine or penicillamine, levodoa or dimercaprol.