Sodium Feredetate
About Sodium Feredetate
Sodium Feredetate is a prescription medicine used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anaemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough iron to produce healthy red blood cells. It provides iron needed to make haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Restoring iron levels may help improve deficiency-related symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and pale skin.
Take Sodium Feredetate exactly as directed by your doctor. Iron is generally absorbed better on an empty stomach, but you may take the medicine with or after food if it causes stomach discomfort. Swallow it with water and take it regularly for the prescribed duration. Your doctor may recommend blood tests to monitor your haemoglobin and iron levels. Continue treatment for as long as advised, as restoring the body’s iron stores may take longer than improving symptoms.
Common side effects may include nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation, diarrhoea, or dark-coloured stools. Dark stools are common during iron treatment and are usually harmless. Contact your doctor if side effects are severe or persistent. Seek prompt medical attention if you develop severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in the stools, or signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Before taking Sodium Feredetate, tell your doctor if you have an iron overload disorder, such as haemochromatosis, repeated blood transfusions, a stomach or intestinal condition, or anaemia that is not caused by iron deficiency. Do not take this medicine if you have excess iron in your body. Your doctor may perform blood tests to confirm iron deficiency and identify its underlying cause before starting treatment.
Iron may reduce the absorption of certain medicines, while antacids, calcium supplements, tea, coffee, and some foods may reduce iron absorption. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines and supplements you take, as some may need to be taken at different times. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, an older adult, or considering this medicine for a child, consult your doctor or pharmacist before use.
Uses of Sodium Feredetate
Medicinal Benefits
Sodium Feredetate helps restore iron levels and supports the production of healthy red blood cells. Its main benefits include:
- Supports haemoglobin production: Provides iron needed to make haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
- Supports healthy red blood cell formation: Helps the body produce healthy red blood cells when iron levels are low.
- Improves oxygen delivery: Restoring iron levels helps red blood cells carry oxygen effectively to the body’s tissues and organs.
- Helps reduce deficiency-related tiredness: Correcting iron deficiency may gradually improve tiredness, weakness, dizziness, and reduced energy levels.
- Supports increased iron needs: Helps maintain adequate iron levels when iron requirements are increased or dietary intake is insufficient, as advised by a doctor.
Directions for Use
- Sodium Feredetate can be taken with food to avoid stomach upset or as advised by the doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Take the prescribed dose of Sodium Feredetate by mouth using the measuring cup/dosing syringe/dropper.
- Shake the bottle well before use.
Storage
Side Effects of Sodium Feredetate
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Dark-coloured stools, which are common during iron treatment and usually harmless
- Nausea or mild stomach discomfort
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Mild abdominal cramps
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- Repeated or persistent vomiting
- Black, tar-like stools or blood in the stools, particularly when accompanied by abdominal pain, dizziness, or weakness
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as a severe skin rash, widespread itching, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Take the medicine for the prescribed duration: Continue treatment even if tiredness or weakness improves. Your body may need additional time to restore its iron stores.
- Attend scheduled blood tests: Your doctor may monitor your haemoglobin and iron levels to assess your response and determine how long treatment is needed.
- Expect darker stools: Dark-coloured stools are common during iron treatment and are usually harmless. Contact your doctor if stools are black and tar-like or accompanied by abdominal pain, weakness, dizziness, or visible blood.
- Tell your doctor about other causes of anaemia: Do not use Sodium Feredetate to self-treat unexplained tiredness or anaemia. Blood tests may be needed to confirm iron deficiency and identify its cause.
- Do not take additional iron products without advice: Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all multivitamins, iron supplements, and other iron-containing medicines you use. Taking too much iron may be harmful.
- Keep the medicine away from children: Accidental iron overdose can be life-threatening, particularly in young children. Store Sodium Feredetate securely out of their sight and reach.
- Seek urgent help after an overdose: If more than the recommended amount is taken, seek immediate medical attention even if there are no symptoms. Do not wait for symptoms to develop.
- Seek medical advice for severe symptoms: Contact your doctor if you develop severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, severe constipation, or persistent diarrhoea. Seek immediate medical attention for difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Sodium Feredetate and require closer monitoring or dose adjustments:
- Antacids: Antacids may reduce iron absorption by changing the acidity of the stomach. Take them at different times, following the interval advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Calcium supplements: Calcium may reduce iron absorption when taken at the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long to separate the doses.
- Tetracycline antibiotics, such as doxycycline or tetracycline: Iron may reduce the absorption of these antibiotics, and the antibiotics may also reduce iron absorption. Take them at different times as advised.
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin: Iron may bind to these medicines in the digestive tract and reduce their absorption and effectiveness. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise how long to separate the doses.
- Levothyroxine: Iron may reduce the absorption of levothyroxine and affect thyroid hormone treatment. Take the medicines at different times as advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Bisphosphonates, such as alendronate: Iron may reduce the absorption of these medicines used for osteoporosis. Follow the recommended interval between doses.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown if alcohol interacts with Sodium Feredetate, so please consult a doctor.
Pregnancy
safe if prescribedIt is generally safe to use Sodium Feredetate during pregnancy. However, please consult a doctor before taking Sodium Feredetate if you are pregnant.
Breast Feeding
cautionPlease consult a doctor before taking Sodium Feredetate if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
safe if prescribedSodium Feredetate is unlikely to affect your ability to drive. However, drive or operate machinery only if you are alert.
Liver
cautionLimited data is available regarding the usage of Sodium Feredetate in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor.
Kidney
cautionLimited data is available regarding the usage of Sodium Feredetate in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor.
Children
safe if prescribedSodium Feredetate should be given to children only if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Include iron-rich foods: Add foods such as green leafy vegetables, pulses, beans, lentils, sesame seeds, fortified cereals, eggs, fish, and lean meat to your diet, according to your dietary preferences.
- Pair plant-based iron with vitamin C: Eat vitamin C-rich foods, such as amla, guava, oranges, tomatoes, or capsicum, with iron-rich meals to help improve the absorption of iron from plant foods.
- Avoid tea or coffee around the time of taking Sodium Feredetate: Tea and coffee contain compounds that may reduce iron absorption. Keep a suitable interval between these drinks and your medicine, as advised by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Separate calcium-rich foods when advised: Milk, dairy products, and calcium supplements may reduce iron absorption when taken at the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how long to separate them from Sodium Feredetate.
- Eat enough fibre and drink adequate fluids: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and sufficient fluids may help reduce constipation during iron treatment. Follow your doctor’s advice if you have been asked to restrict fluids.
- Do not rely on diet alone to treat diagnosed anaemia: Continue taking Sodium Feredetate for the prescribed duration. Dietary changes support treatment but may not provide enough iron to correct an established deficiency.
Special Advise
- Sodium Feredetate might cause blackening/darkening of the stools and can interfere with test results. Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Sodium Feredetate.
- Regular blood tests while taking Sodium Feredetate are advised.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Iron deficiency anaemia: Anaemia is the decrease in the red blood cells or haemoglobin concentration in the blood or the lowered ability to carry oxygen. It is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells for carrying adequate oxygen to various body tissues. If the body has too little iron, it cannot make enough haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the main protein in the red blood cells, which is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Anaemia can be caused by blood loss due to ulcers, haemorrhoids, inflammation of the stomach, menstruation, or problems with bone marrow. Symptoms include tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, light-headedness, pale skin, dizziness, or fast heartbeat.
FAQs
Sodium Feredetate helps in the transportation of oxygen throughout the body and the production of red blood cells. Thereby, Sodium Feredetate helps in treating anaemia.
Do not take Sodium Feredetate with milk or milk products (cheese or yoghurt) as it might affect the absorption of Sodium Feredetate.
Sodium Feredetate may cause constipation. Eat fibre-rich food and drink plenty of fluids if you experience constipation. Consult your doctor if you have severe constipation.
To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Sodium Feredetate for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you experience any difficulty while taking Sodium Feredetate.
Sodium Feredetate might cause the stools to appear darker than usual; this is due to the elimination of unabsorbed iron. Do not worry as it is common while taking iron preparations. Consult a doctor if this bothers you or if you notice blood in stools.
Tea, coffee, milk, milk products, eggs, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), and citric acid might interfere with the absorption of Sodium Feredetate. Therefore, avoid taking them with Sodium Feredetate.
It is completely normal for Sodium Feredetate to cause dark or black-coloured stools. This is a harmless side effect caused by unabsorbed iron passing through your digestive system. Talk to your doctor if you experience severe stomach pain or black stools that are tarry or accompanied by blood.
This medicine is frequently prescribed during pregnancy to treat or prevent anaemia, but you must only use it under the guidance of your healthcare provider. Your doctor will determine the exact dose that is safe for you and your baby. Talk to your doctor to see if this is right for you.
Liquid forms of iron can cause teeth staining. You can prevent this by diluting the liquid in water or fruit juice, drinking it through a straw, and rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water right after taking your dose. Talk to your pharmacist for more tips.
You should avoid taking Sodium Feredetate at the exact same time as multivitamins, especially those containing calcium, zinc, or magnesium, as they can compete for absorption. It is best to space them out by at least two hours. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for a safe dosing schedule.
It is recommended to limit or avoid alcohol consumption while taking Sodium Feredetate. Alcohol can irritate your stomach lining and potentially interfere with how your body absorbs or processes iron. Talk to your doctor for guidance regarding alcohol consumption.
This medicine is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, either one hour before or two hours after a meal. However, if it causes an upset stomach, you may take it with a small amount of food to help ease discomfort. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if stomach upset persists.
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