Iron Supplements Flashcards
Give 2 examples of iron supplements
- Ferrous sulphate
- Ferrous fumigate
What is the mechanism of action of iron supplements?
Increases the iron stores contained in the body
What is iron required for?
Erythropoiesis and haemoglobin synthesis
What happens if iron deficiency is present?
Anaemia and symptoms of reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, e.g. shortness of breath, can occur
What are the routes of delivery of iron supplementation?
- PO
- IV infusion
When should IV infusion of iron be used?
Reserved for specialist use only where the patient is acutely unwell
What route of iron supplementation are allergic reactions common?
Parenteral route
What are the indications for iron supplements?
Treatment and prophylaxis of iron deficiency anaemia
Why should you confirm that iron deficiency is the cause of anaemia before giving iron supplementation?
There is a risk of iron overload if patients with sufficient iron stores are treated with supplementary iron
What are the contraindications/cautions to iron supplementation?
- Peptic ulceration
- Known hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs
- Avoid in patients with strictures or diverticula
What monitoring is required with iron supplements?
Take note of any side effects when reviewing patient
What might iron supplements interact with?
- Quinolones
- Tetracyclines
- Penicillinamine
- Levodopa
What might happen if these drugs are given with iron supplements?
They can reduce the absorption of these drugs when taking oral iron because the iron salts form chelates with these drugs
What are the common side effects of iron supplements?
- GI disturbances, particularly constipation
- Black tarry stools
What patient counselling is required with iron supplementation?
- Side effects
- Black and tarry stools
- Taking vitamin C with iron
- Compliance before colonoscopy
- Keep iron tablets away from children
What patient counselling is required regarding side effects with iron supplementation?
Explain common side effects of iron therapy are nausea and GI disturbances such as diarrhoea, constupation, and epigastric pain. Iron tablets can be taken with food to reduced GI disturbance
What patient counselling is required regarding black and tarry stools with iron supplementation?
Warn patient that oral iron can cause this, and not to worry if this occurs after commencing treatment
What patient counselling is required regarding taking vitamin C with iron?
Advise patient that taking vitamin C can increase the uptake of iron, so they might want to consider taking vitamin C supplements in conjunction with iron tablets to increase the efficacy of treatment
What patient counselling is required regarding taking iron before colonoscopy?
If patient is having colonoscopy, may need to stop iron supplementation in advance of procedure for visualisation purposes (easier to see during colonoscopy if stools are not black and tarry)
How long before colonoscopy should iron supplements be stopped?
Usually 1 week, but specific advice should be sought from team performing the procedure
Why should iron tablets be kept out of reach of children?
Iron poisoning can be fatal
