What is ferro sanol and when is it used?

ferro sanol is an iron preparation used to treat iron deficiency in the blood. Iron deficiency states can arise, for example, with high blood loss during pregnancy, during childbirth and breastfeeding, in the growth phase of children.

Signs of iron deficiency include striking paleness due to low levels of blood pigments (anaemia), unusual tiredness or reduced physical capacity.

What should be considered?

Before you start the treatment, the low level of iron and blood pigment (haemoglobin) in the blood should be checked by the doctor or by have been confirmed by the doctor through appropriate examinations. If the anemia is not caused by iron deficiency, the drug is ineffective and can lead to iron overload. Your doctor will monitor the progress of the therapy with blood tests.

If your symptoms do not improve within 3 weeks, see your doctor.

When should ferro sanol not be taken?

Ferro sanol should not be taken in the event of hypersensitivity to an ingredient, narrowing of the esophagus or iron accumulation, iron utilization disorders, anemia », which is not due to iron deficiency, in severe liver and kidney diseases and in repeated blood transfusions.

ferro sanol capsules are not suitable for children under the age of 6 and over 6 years of age weighing 20 kg.

When is caution required when taking ferro sanol?

Inflammatory stomach and intestinal diseases (e.g. gastritis, stomach or intestinal ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, narrowing of the intestine , diverticula) you should only take iron supplements with caution and after consulting your doctor.

In anemia due to severe and chronic kidney disease, iron should be administered intravenously together with erythropoietin and not ferrosanol capsules.

During treatment with ferro sanol, tooth discoloration may occur, which either disappears on its own after the treatment is complete or can be removed by a dental cleaning by your dentist. Discolouration of the tongue and oral mucosa can also occur (see under "What side effects can ferro sanol have?").

Certain antibiotics (tetracyclines, e.g. doxycycline, and quinolones), the blood pressure medication methyldopa, penicillamine, oral gold compounds and the thyroid hormone thyroxine are impaired in their effectiveness if taken at the same time as ferro sanol. Some medicines for stomach hyperacidity (antacids), for high blood fat levels (cholestyramine) and the Parkinson's drug levodopa can reduce the effect of ferro sanol by impairing the absorption of iron in the intestine.

If ferro sanol capsules and thyroid hormones such as L-thyroxine have to be taken, the interval between taking them should be at least 2 hours, otherwise the absorption of L-thyroxine will be disturbed.

The irritating effect on the mucous membranes in the stomach and intestines can be increased by taking certain anti-inflammatory agents (e.g. salicylates, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone).

There should therefore be a gap of several hours between taking one of the above-mentioned medicines and ferro sanol. Taking the antibiotic doxycycline together with ferro sanol should be avoided.

If the antibiotic chloramphenicol is administered at the same time, the effect of iron therapy may be delayed.

Chronic alcohol abuse can lead to iron overload by increasing iron intake. If you suffer from impaired liver function, you should take ferro sanol with caution.

so-called “Proton pump inhibitors”, which are used for reflux or excess gastric acid, can reduce the absorption of oral iron.

Iron supplements can cause poisoning. Children should be particularly careful when taking ferro sanol, as iron supplements can lead to particularly severe poisoning.

Note:

During treatment with ferro sanol, tests for traces of blood in the stool can be falsely negative.

This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per capsule (100 mg iron), i.e. essentially 'sodium-free'. it is almost «sodium-free».

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or druggist if you

• suffer from other illnesses,
• have allergies or
• take other medicines (including those you bought yourself!) or use them externally!

Can ferro sanol be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Ferro sanol can be taken during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Iron deficiency often occurs precisely under these circumstances! However, you should definitely talk to your doctor, pharmacist or druggist first before you start taking ferro sanol.

How do you use ferro sanol?

Adults, adolescents and children over the age of 6 (with a body weight of 20 kg or more)

In general, the usual dose for adults, adolescents and children from the age of 6 years (min. 20 kg body weight) is 1 capsule daily:

Adults and adolescents from the age of 15 (with a body weight of 50 kg or more)

In the case of a pronounced iron deficiency, The following dosage is recommended at the beginning of treatment for adults and adolescents from the age of 15 or from a body weight of 50 kg:

A daily dose of 5 mg/kg body weight should not be exceeded.

Take the capsules whole with enough water. It should be taken on an empty stomach or at some time from meals, as the absorption of iron from food components (plant-based food, coffee, tea, milk) can be reduced.

If you have trouble swallowing the capsules, the contents of the capsule can be taken without the capsule shell. To do this, use both hands to carefully pull apart the capsule shell over a tablespoon and collect the 300-400 small beads in the spoon. After taking the contents of the capsule with a spoon, drink enough water.

ferro sanol capsules are not suitable for children under 6 years of age.

The blood pigment content of the blood (haemoglobin) should be checked regularly by the doctor.

Stick to the dosage given in the package leaflet or as prescribed by your doctor. If you think the medicine is too weak or too strong, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or druggist.

What side effects can ferro sanol have?

The following side effects can occur when taking or using ferro sanol:

Tooth discoloration, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, heartburn, dark discoloration of the stool, discoloration of the tongue or oral mucosa can occur.

A possible blackening of the stool during treatment with ferro sanol is irrelevant.

Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions of the skin such as inflammation, redness or hives can occur.

These are signs of hypersensitivity (allergy) to the preparation. In such cases you should stop taking ferro sanol and see a doctor.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or druggist. This also applies in particular to side effects that are not listed in this leaflet.

What else needs to be considered?

The medicinal product may only be used up to the date marked «EXP» on the container.

Storage instructions

Store at room temperature (15-25°C).

Because a pack of 50 capsules of ferro sanol contains a total dose of iron which, if accidentally ingested, can lead to life-threatening poisoning in small children, it is important to keep this medicinal product out of the reach of children.

Further information

Your doctor, pharmacist or druggist can provide you with further information. These people have the detailed information for specialists.

What does ferro sanol contain?

Active ingredients

1 capsule contains 100 mg iron as an active ingredient in the form of Iron Glycine Sulfate.

Excipients

Ascorbic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, hypromellose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1), sodium dodecyl sulfate (E487), polysorbate 80, triethyl acetyl citrate, talc, .Capsule shell: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), red iron oxide (E 172), black iron oxide (E 172), yellow iron oxide (E 172)

Approval number

36527 (Swissmedic).

Where can you get ferro sanol? What packs are available?

In pharmacies and drugstores, without a doctor's prescription.

Packs of 50 capsules (D).

Authorization holder

UCB – Pharma AG, Bulle.

This leaflet was last checked by the drug authority (Swissmedic) in April 2021.