Ferrous Gluconate

Ferrous Gluconate is used either as an over-the-counter medication to treat Iron Deficiency Anemia or as a nutritional supplement.

• Ferrous Gluconate is available under the following different brand name: Fergon.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Tablet

• 225mg (27mg elemental iron)
• 240mg (27mg elemental iron)
• 246mg (28mg elemental iron)
• 324mg (38mg elemental iron)
• 325mg (36mg elemental iron)

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Adult dosage

• Treatment: 60 mg elemental Fe orally every 6-12 hours
• Prophylaxis: 60 mg elemental Fe orally once daily

Pediatric dosage

• Treatment: 3-6 mg elemental Fe/kg/day orally
• Prophylaxis: 1-2 mg elemental Fe/kg/day orally; not to exceed 15 mg/day

Recommended Daily Intake

Adult dosage

• Men: 8 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Women: 18 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Pregnant women: 27 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Lactating women: 9 mg elemental iron Fe once daily

Pediatric dosage

• Children 0-6 months: 0.27 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Children 7-12 months: 11 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Children 1-3 years of age: 7 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Children 4-8 years of age: 10 mg elemental Fe orally once daily
• Children 9-13 years of age: 8 mg elemental Fe orally once daily

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”.

Common side effects of Ferrous Gluconate include:

• constipation, 
• diarrhea, 
• stomach cramps, 
• upset stomach, and 
• black stools 

Serious side effects of Ferrous Gluconate include:

• rash, 
• itching,
• difficult breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and
• severe dizziness

Rare side effects of Ferrous Gluconate include:

• none 

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Ferrous Gluconate has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Ferrous Gluconate has serious interactions with at least 13 other drugs. 
• Ferrous Gluconate has moderate interactions with at least 37 other drugs.
• Ferrous Gluconate has minor interactions with at least 11 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Hemochromatosis
• Hemosiderosis
• Hemolytic anemia
• Anemia other than iron-deficiency anemia

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ferrous Gluconate?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Ferrous Gluconate?”

Cautions

• Oral absorption variable and incomplete
• Avoid peptic ulcer, enteritis, or ulcerative colitis
• Avoid frequent blood transfusions
• Iron stores in the elderly are usually normal; anemia of chronic disease often seen in the elderly is caused by the inability of the reticuloendothelial system to use available iron stores
• Premature infants with vitamin E deficiency: administration of Fe may cause red cell hemolysis and hemolytic anemia

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Generally acceptable during pregnancy. Pregnant women typically require increased iron ingestion to meet dietary requirements (see dosing sections). 
• Lactation: Distributed in breast milk, considered safe for breastfeeding; breast milk generally provides enough iron to meet infant nutritional requirements; amount of iron in breast milk is typically not influenced by maternal iron status.