Once the iron you ingest becomes soluble, it is absorbed in the duodenum, the first part of your small intestine that connects to your stomach.1
The absorption process in the duodenum begins with iron uptake, when iron passes through a membrane of cells called enterocytes that line the intestine.2,3 Then, iron is transferred from enterocytes into the plasma.2 A protein called transferrin attaches to the iron and helps transport it throughout your body.4
Iron later passes to your bone marrow, where it is used to make hemoglobin and red blood cells, which circulate in your body and help supply oxygen to your organs and tissues.5
When you absorb more iron than your body needs for immediate purposes, some of it is stored in your cells as ferritin (ferritin is a storage protein for iron in your cells).6 These stores can supply iron when your body needs it later and will be depleted before iron deficiency begins.6
Important Safety Information
WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. KEEP THIS PRODUCT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
Warning
Folic acid alone is improper therapy in the treatment of pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias where vitamin B12 is deficient.
Precautions
Administration of Drug- General: Take 2 hours after meals. Do not exceed recommended dose. Discontinue use if symptoms of intolerance appear. The type of anemia and underlying cause or causes should be determined before starting therapy with Ferralet® 90 tablets. Ensure Hgb, Hct, reticulocyte count are determined before starting therapy and periodically thereafter during prolonged treatment. Periodically review therapy to determine if it needs to be continued without change or if a dose change is indicated. This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Although the overall incidence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) sensitivity in the general population is low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.
- Folic Acid: Folic acid in doses above 0.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations remain progressive. Pernicious anemia should be excluded before using these products since folic acid may mask the symptoms of pernicious anemia.
- Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
- Geriatric Use: Dosing for elderly patients should be cautious. Due to the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy, dosing should start at the lower end of the dosing range.
This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.
Please see full Prescribing Information
- Barton JC. Iron deficiency. In Rakel RE, Bope ET. Conn's Current Therapy, 2008. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Saunders/Elsevier, 385-389.
- Trinder D, Fox C, Vautier G, Olynyk JK. Molecular pathogenesis of iron overload. Gut. 2002 Aug;51(2):290-5.
- Roy CN, Enns CA. Iron homeostasis: new tales from the crypt. Blood. 2000 Dec 15;96(13):4020-7.
- Huebers HA, Josephson B, Huebers E, Csiba E, Finch CA. Occupancy of the iron binding sites of human transferrin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Jul;81(14):4326-30.
- Iron. Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary - Ed. 20, Editor Donald Venes. F.A. Davis Company 2005
- Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1998 Apr 3 [accessed 2008 Apr 9]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00051880.htm.
