Prolonged administration of iron should be avoided except in patients with continued bleeding or repeated pregnancies. In infants, large chronic doses of iron may so interfere with the assimilation of phosphorus as to cause severe rickets. Orally administered iron salts may aggravate existing disorders, such as peptic ulcer, regional enteritis and ulcerative colitis. They may not be absorbed in patients with steatorrhea and those who have had a partial gastrectomy. Do not administer oral iron preparations concomitantly with parenteral iron.
Iron binds with tetracyclines in equal molecular ratio thus preventing absorption of tetracyclines.
Warn patients that iron is toxic when overdoses are ingested by children. Severe reactions, including fatalities, have resulted. Concomitant administration of antacids containing aluminum and magnesium salts may impair the absorption of iron. Untoward effects usually subside with continuation of therapy or by administration with or after meals. There is a possibility that liquid dosage forms of iron may stain teeth.