AGOFER (Ferrous sulphate & Folic Acid)

Ferrous sulphate and folic acid combination tablets are a medication used to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency is a common condition, especially in women of childbearing age, and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.

Ferrous sulphate is a type of iron supplement that helps to replenish the body’s iron stores. Iron is an essential mineral that plays a key role in the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. Folic acid is a B-vitamin that is important for the formation of red blood cells and for the proper development of the fetal neural tube during pregnancy.

Combining ferrous sulphate and folic acid in a single tablet makes it easier for individuals to ensure that they are getting the recommended daily intake of both nutrients. This is especially important for pregnant women, as folic acid is essential for fetal development and iron deficiency anemia can be harmful to both the mother and baby.

Indications

Iron deficiency due to chronic blood loss. Pregnancy, foetus takes up to 600mg of iron from the mother even if she is iron deficient in various abnormalities of the gastro-intestinal tract where the proportion of dietary iron absorbed may be reduced in premature babies. During the treatment of severe pemicious anaemia

Dosage

The oral dose of elemental iron for deficiency should be 100 to 200mg daily. It is customary to give this as dried ferrous sulphate 200mg (equivalent to 65 mg of elemental iron) three times daily; a dose of ferrous sulphate 200mg once or twice daily may be effective for prophylaxis or for mild iron deficiency

Special precaution

History of peptic ulcer, severe renal failure, iron and tetracycline bind together leading to impairment of absorption

Side effects

Gastro-intestinal irritation may occur with iron salts. Nausea and epigastric pain or dose related but the relationship between dose and altered bowel habit (constipation or diarrhea) is less clear –  oral iron, particularly modified release preparations, may exacerbate diarrhea in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Overdose

Iron poisoning is commonest in children and is usually accidental hypotension, coma and hepatocellular necrosis occur later

Treatment of overdose

If side effects occur the dose may be reduced alternatively another iron salt may  be used, but on improvement in tolerance may simply be a result of lower content of elemental iron.

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LINKS

• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-18533/ferrous-sulfate-c-folic-acid-oral/details#:~:text=This%20medication%20is%20an%20iron,by%20anemia%20or%20during%20pregnancy).
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-18528/ferrous-fumarate-folic-acid-oral/details
• https://www.drugs.com/ferrous_sulfate.html
• https://myhealthbox.eu/en/agofer-tablets-200mg-025mg/5582898
• https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/ferrous-sulfate
• https://www.1mg.com/otc/agufer-tablet-otc344409