Oral ferrous iron
Ferrous sulfate
Brand names: Ferrograd
Adult dose
Dose: 200mg TDS (≈65mg elemental TDS); current evidence supports 200mg OD or alternate-day for many patients
Route: PO
Frequency: OD-TDS
Clinical pearls
- Take on empty stomach with vitamin C if tolerated
- Alternate-day dosing improves absorption per dose and reduces SE
Contraindications
- Iron overload
- Haemochromatosis
Side effects
- GI upset (dose-related)
- Black stools
- Constipation
Interactions
- Tetracyclines, quinolones, levothyroxine (separate by ≥2h)
- Antacids/PPIs reduce absorption
Monitoring
- Hb
- Ferritin
Reference: BNF; NICE CKS iron-deficiency anaemia; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ferrous-sulfate/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- DOAC Score for Selecting Direct Oral Anticoagulant in Non-Valvular AF · Anticoagulation
- Corrected Reticulocyte Count / Reticulocyte Production Index · Anaemia
- Ganzoni Equation for Iron Deficiency · Anaemia
- Transferrin Saturation Calculator · Anaemia / Iron Studies
- Iron Deficiency Anaemia Calculator · Anaemia Assessment
- Ferritin Iron Store Interpretation · Haematological Values
Pathways
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Anaemia Investigation · BSH / NICE
- Splenomegaly Workup · BSH; BMJ Best Practice
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis and Treatment · NICE CG144 / NICE NG158
- Sickle Cell Crisis · BSH 2021 / BCSH
- Neutropenic Sepsis · NICE CG151 2012 / ESMO