Advice to patients (27) Ferrous sulphate tablets
- Ferrous sulphate tablets contain iron. Your body needs iron to make red blood cells.
- These tablets are best taken on an empty stomach (at least one hour before or two hours after food) so as much as possible of the iron is taken up by the body. However, ferrous sulphate sometimes causes stomach upsets. If this happens, try taking the tablets with or just after food.
- Some people notice that ferrous sulphate makes their stools a very dark or black colour. This is not usually of any concern.
- These tablets sometimes cause diarrhoea or constipation. If this is persistent or troublesome tell me or your doctor.
- Problems can occur if ferrous sulphate is taken with some other medicines. Are you taking any other prescribed medicines or medicines you have bought?
This series of "advice tips" on commonly used drugs is written by
pharmacists from the Sussex Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit. It is intended
as a reminder of points to be made by pharmacists as they hand out dispensed
medicines. The list is not intended to be comprehensive but to cover some important
points.
By Carina and Duncan Livingstone
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