Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Ferrous sulfate as follows:
General allergic reactions
- Ferrous sulfate use can result in general allergic reactions, such as, skin rashes, hives, and itching.
- Some patients can present with symptoms of severe allergic and anaphylactic response with Ferrous sulfate, such as, swelling of face, lips, throat, and tongue, with consequent difficulty breathing, and increased shortness of breath. Seek emergency medical help for such findings, especially with difficulty breathing, for any appropriate measures to be considered.
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- This medication yields the best results, when taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water, about an hour before meal or two hours after meal. Ferrous sulfate use can result in common general constitutional symptoms such as, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in the mouth, and burning sensation in the stomach, especially when taken on empty stomach. Taking the dose of Ferrous sulfate with a small snack can help avoid having unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms with the medication.
- Ferrous sulfate intake can result in gastric upset, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, slowing of bowel movements, and exacerbation of constipation episodes, especially in individuals with history of the same. Observe compliance with recommendation for liberal fluid intake, while you are continuing on Ferrous sulfate, to prevent slowing of bowels. Most of these side-effects are self-limiting and it can take some time for your body to fairly adjust to these side-effects.
- When taking Ferrous sulfate as an oral liquid/suspension/elixir, upon plain intake, it carries the risk of staining the teeth black. Mix the liquid medication with a cup of water or small amount of orange juice and drinking the mixture using a straw can help avoid the teeth getting stained with Ferrous sulfate. Cleaning the teeth twice weekly with sodium bicarbonate (baking powder) also can help prevent the teeth from staining.
- Ferrous sulfate can turn the stool dark black in color, which is a side-effect just not harmful. This can continue for as long as you are continuing to take the iron supplement.
Musculoskeletal side-effects
- Ferrous sulfate administered as shots into the muscle or vein can result in discoloration of skin with burning sensation at the site of injection. Also, individuals can present with fatigue, muscle and joint pain with cramps around the site of injection, secondary to long-term administration of ferrous sulfate.
