Iron/Folic Acid/Vitamin/Mineral

Iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral is used for the treatment of anemias that are responsive to oral iron therapy, including hypochromic anemia associated with pregnancy, chronic and/or acute blood loss, metabolic disease, post-surgical convalescence, and bleeding diathesis; and for folic acid supplementation for patients on kidney dialysis.

Iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral is available under the following different brand names: Irospan 24/6, Nephron FA, and Corvite FE.

Dosages of Iron/Folic Acid/Vitamin/Mineral:

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Irospan 24/6 tablet

• The regimen consists of 24 tablets of iron, vitamins, and minerals PLUS 6 tablets of succinic acid with vitamins and minerals
• Iron/multivitamin/mineral tablet (days 1-24): sodium ascorbate 100mg, calcium formate 155mg, thiamine 5mg, riboflavin 5mg, niacin 25mg, pyridoxine 30mg, folic acid 1mg, biotin 300mcg, calcium pantothenate 300mcg, ferrous bisglycinate 65mg, iron dextran 65mg
• Succinic acid/multivitamin/mineral tablet (days 25-30): sodium ascorbate 100mg, calcium carbonate 100mg, thiamine 5mg, riboflavin 5mg, niacin 25mg, pyridoxine 30mg, folic acid 1mg, cyanocobalamin 10mcg, biotin 300mcg, calcium pantothenate 7mg, succinic acid 150mg

Nephron FA

• Tablet: iron (ferrous cation) 66mg, ascorbic acid 40mg, niacinamide 20mg, pyridoxine 10mg, pantothenic acid 10mg, riboflavin 1.7mg, thiamine 1.5mg, folic acid 1mg, biotin 0.3mg, and cobalamin 0.006mg

Corvite FE

• Tablet: calcium ascorbate 160mg, calcium threonate 5mg, ferrous carbonyl (elemental iron) 150mg, cholecalciferol 1000 IU, pyridoxine 10mg, folic acid 1mg, cyanocobalamin 15mcg, magnesium malate 15mg, and zinc glycinate 25mg

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Iron Deficiency Anemia

• Indicated for the treatment of anemias that are responsive to oral iron therapy, including hypochromic anemia associated with pregnancy, chronic and/or acute blood loss, metabolic disease, post-surgical convalescence, and bleeding diathesis
• Irospan 24/6: 1 iron/multivitamin/mineral tablet orally once daily on days 1-24, and then 1 succinic acid/multivitamin/mineral tablet orally once daily on days 25-30; repeat cycle
• Corvite FE: 1 tablet orally once daily

Kidney Dialysis Supplement

• Indicated for folic acid supplementation for patients on kidney dialysis
• Nephron FA: 1 tablet orally once daily on an empty stomach

Children under 18 years: Safety and efficacy not established

Side effects of iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral include:

• Hypersensitivity
• Iron: Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dark stools, and abdominal pain
• Folic acid: Allergic sensitization

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, 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.

• Iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral include:
  • omadacycline
  • sarecycline
• Iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products 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.

Warnings

• This medication contains iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral. Do not take Irospan 24/6, Nephron FA, or Corvite FE if you are allergic to iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Black Box Warnings

• Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than 6 years
• Keep product out of reach of children
• In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately
• Initial symptoms of acute overdose may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tarry stools melena, hematemesis, low blood pressure, fast heart rate, metabolic acidosis, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), dehydration, drowsiness, pallor, cyanosis, lassitude, seizures, shock, and coma

Contraindications

• Ingesting more than 3 g of omega-fatty acids/day has potential antithrombotic effects, including increased bleeding time and international normalized ratio (INR); avoid omega-3 fatty acids in patients on anticoagulants and in those known to have a bleeding diathesis
• Folic acid alone is improper therapy in the treatment of pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias where vitamin B12 is deficient
• Hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis are contraindications to iron therapy

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information is available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Iron/Folic Acid/Vitamin/Mineral?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Iron/Folic Acid/Vitamin/Mineral?”

Cautions

• Do not exceed recommended dose
• Determine the type of anemia and the underlying cause or causes before starting therapy
• Folic acid greater than 1 mg/day may obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations remain progressive
• Exclude the diagnosis of pernicious anemia before beginning therapy with folic acid (may mask symptoms of pernicious anemia)
• Irospan contains formate, which if consumed above the recommended level, could cause visual impairment and other health effects; do not take more than the recommended amount

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There is no information available regarding the use of iron/folic acid/vitamin/mineral during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor.