Keep out of the sight and reach of children. If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take the missed dose at all. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Do not take Ferrous Sulfate tablets if you:
- Are allergic to dried ferrous sulfate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in the ingredients section).
- Notice blood in your urine (Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria).
- Suffer from iron storage disease, where the body contains more iron than it should (conditions such as haemosiderosis, haemochromatosis).
- Suffer from an active stomach ulcer (peptic ulcer).
- Suffer from inflammation which causes abdominal pain or diarrhoea (ulcerative colitis) or any other inflammatory condition of the bowels (regional enteritis).
- Have had repeated blood transfusions.
- Suffer from haemolytic anaemia (anaemia due to destruction of red blood cells).
- Are already being treated with iron supplements.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ferrous Sulfate tablets if you:
- Have had a gastrectomy (operation to remove all or part of the stomach).
- Have a history of stomach ulcer.
- Suffer from diabetes.
- Have suffered from inflammatory bowel disease.
- Suffer from diverticular disease (where pouches form in the bowel wall).
- Suffer from iron overload.
- Suffer from intestinal strictures (abnormal narrowing of the bowel often caused by inflammation).
- Have co-existing deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid since combined deficiency produces microcytic blood film.
- Have difficulties swallowing.
Due to the risk of mouth ulceration and tooth discolouration, tablets should not be sucked, chewed or kept in the mouth but swallowed whole with water. If you cannot follow this instruction or have difficulty swallowing, please contact your doctor.
If you accidentally choke on a tablet, please contact your doctor as soon as possible. This is because there is a risk of ulcers and narrowing of the bronchus occurring if the tablet enters the airways. This may result in persistent coughing, coughing up blood and/or feeling out of breath, even if the choking happened days to months before these symptoms occurred. Therefore you need to be urgently assessed to make sure that the tablet doesn't damage your airways.
Ferrous Sulfate tablets with food and drink: Do not take this medicine with tea, eggs or milk as they reduce its absorption in the stomach. Ferrous Sulfate tablets should not be taken within one hour before or two hours after eating or drinking the following products: tea, milk, eggs and whole grains. These products can reduce the absorption of iron. Meat and products containing vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron. Follow the advice of your dietician or doctor when taking Ferrous Sulfate tablets with any of the food or drink listed.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only take this medicine if your doctor has specifically recommended it. For the remainder of the pregnancy Ferrous Sulfate tablets can be taken to prevent iron deficiency. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines: This medicine does not affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
This medicine contains 0.08 mg aspartame in each tablet. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly.
