Ferrous Gluconate Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Precautions Before Starting Ferrous Gluconate

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to ferrous gluconate, other types of iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate, any of the active or inactive ingredients in ferrous gluconate tablets such as microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, dicalcium phosphate, stearic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, powdered cellulose, talc, sucrose, calcium carbonate, copovidone, shellac, cocoa butter, maltodextrin, hypromellose, riboflavin, carnauba wax, white wax, and artificial flavors. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Ferrous gluconate may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, hemolytic anemia, or a genetic disorder like hemochromatosis or hemosiderosis (iron overload disorder).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breast-feeding.

Precautions During Use of Ferrous Gluconate

Keep all your healthcare appointments while taking ferrous gluconate supplements. Your doctor may order blood tests to check your iron levels and monitor your response to treatment.

Ferrous gluconate can affect the absorption of certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline. Make sure you take these antibiotics at least two hours away from your iron supplement.

Antacids can interfere with iron absorption. Take ferrous gluconate at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after antacids.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking ferrous gluconate.

Ferrous Gluconate Drug Interactions

Ferrous gluconate can interact with other medications and affect how they work. Some medications can affect iron absorption. Possible interactions between ferrous gluconate and other drugs can increase the risk of severe adverse reactions.

The following medications can have interactions with ferrous gluconate:

• Antibiotics such as tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline
• Antacids

The above list may not include all possible interactions of ferrous gluconate. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, OTC (non-prescription) medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professionals if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with dietary supplements and prescription medications.