Oral iron (Fe) therapy for anemia

There can be hundred of reasons for anemia. Among those iron deficiency is the major cause for anemia. Therefore iron therapy might be indicated for iron deficiency anemia. But the first step of treating iron deficiency anemia is the identification of the cause for iron deficiency and correction of it. Most of the time it is due to dietary deficiency of iron.

Oral iron (Fe) therapy is indicated in this case. Preparations of oral irons available are as follows;

Iron salt	Amount	Ferrous iron
Ferrous fumarate	200mg	65mg
Ferrous gluconate	300mg	35mg
Ferrous succinate	100mg	35mg
Ferrous sulphate	300mg	60mg
Ferrous sulphate,dried	200mg	65mg

Iron salt should be given by mouth unless there are good reasons for using another route. Ferrous salts show only marginal differences between one another in efficiency of absorption of iron, but ferric salts are much less well absorbed. The oral iron (Fe) dose for iron deficiency anemia should be 100 to 200mg daily.

The hemoglobin concentration should rise by about 100-200 mg/100ml (1-2g/l) per day over 3-4 weeks. When the hemoglobin is in the normal range, treatment should be continued for a further 3 months to replenish the iron stores.