Iron deficiency anaemia (oral Iron)

Modified-release preparations have no therapeutic advantage because they are likely to carry the iron past the area of the gut where most iron absorption occurs, therefore they should not be used.

Interactions: ciprofloxacin and tetracycline, the serum levels of both are reduced if administered at the same time as iron preparations.

Iron and folic acid: a combined iron and low dose folic acid preparation may be given against combined deficiency states during pregnancy in women "at risk".

Folic acid: 400micrograms daily should be recommended for all women attempting to conceive and continued until the 12th week of pregnancy to reduce the risk of a neural tube defect. Women at high risk, (women with epilepsy and those with a previous affected pregnancy), should take 5mg from preconception until 12 weeks. Pregaday^® is a combined iron and folic acid preparation but only contains 350micrograms of folic acid.

For more information for prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy see Folic acid.

Pregaday is available to purchase OTC