Domaferron 200 mg/5 ml Syrup

Iron supplement for:

• Iron-deficiency anaemia (tiredness, pale skin, breathlessness due to low iron)
• Prevention of iron deficiency in pregnancy, heavy periods, after blood loss, in growing children and premature babies

Adults (treatment): 200 mg (about 65 mg elemental iron) once to three times daily; many guidelines now advise once daily or on alternate days for better absorption and fewer side effects.

Prevention: 200 mg once daily.

Children: 3–6 mg/kg/day of elemental iron in 1–3 divided doses (liquid), as prescribed.

• Best absorbed on an empty stomach (1 hour before meals) with water or orange juice; take with food if it upsets the stomach.
• Continue for about 3 months after haemoglobin returns to normal to refill iron stores.
• Avoid tea, coffee, milk and antacids within 1–2 hours.

• Anaemia not caused by iron deficiency (e.g. thalassaemia without iron deficiency, haemolytic anaemia)
• Iron overload (haemochromatosis, haemosiderosis)
• Repeated blood transfusions
• Allergy to the product

Common: nausea, stomach pain, constipation or diarrhoea, black stools (harmless).

Less common: heartburn, loss of appetite, metallic taste.

Liquid iron: may stain teeth — use a straw and brush teeth afterwards.

• Keep out of reach of children — iron overdose is dangerous for children.
• Find the cause of iron deficiency in adults (e.g. bleeding from the gut).
• Use with care in inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer, strictures.

Safe and commonly prescribed in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Antacids, calcium, zinc, tea, coffee, milk, PPIs (reduce iron absorption)
• Tetracyclines, quinolones, levothyroxine, bisphosphonates, penicillamine, levodopa, methyldopa (iron reduces their absorption — separate by 2–4 hours)
• Vitamin C (increases absorption)

Dangerous, especially in children: vomiting (sometimes with blood), diarrhoea, stomach pain, drowsiness; later shock, liver failure. Go to hospital immediately.

Store below 30°C, dry, in a child-resistant container out of reach of children.