Iron Supplements (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Dietary Supplement

Dosing - The amount of iron needed to meet normal daily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals. The following information includes only the average amounts of iron.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets, oral solution):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
    
    For the U.S.
    • Adult and teenage males - 10 milligrams (mg) per day.
    • Adult and teenage females - 10 to 15 mg per day.
    • Pregnant females - 30 mg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females - 15 mg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age - 10 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age - 10 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age - 6 to 10 mg per day.
    For Canada
    • Adult and teenage males - 8 to 10 mg per day.
    • Adult and teenage females - 8 to 13 mg per day.
    • Pregnant females - 17 to 22 mg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females - 8 to 13 mg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age - 8 to 10 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age - 8 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age - 0.3 to 6 mg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children - The dose will be determined by your doctor, based on your condition.
• For injection dosage forms:
  • Adults, teenagers, and children - The dose will be determined by your doctor, based on your condition.

After you start using this dietary supplement, continue to return to your health care professional to see if you are benefiting from the iron. Some blood tests may be necessary for this.

Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, with water or fruit juice (adults: full glass or 8 ounces; children: 1/2 glass or 4 ounces), about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, to lessen the possibility of stomach upset, iron may be taken with food or immediately after meals.

For safe and effective use of iron supplements:

• Follow your health care professional's instructions if this dietary supplement was prescribed.
• Follow the manufacturer's package directions if you are treating yourself. If you think you still need iron after taking it for 1 or 2 months, check with your health care professional.

Liquid forms of iron supplement tend to stain the teeth. To prevent, reduce, or remove these stains:

• Mix each dose in water, fruit juice, or tomato juice. You may use a drinking tube or straw to help keep the iron supplement from getting on the teeth.
• When doses of liquid iron supplement are to be given by dropper, the dose may be placed well back on the tongue and followed with water or juice.
• Iron stains on teeth can usually be removed by brushing with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or medicinal peroxide (hydrogen peroxide 3%).

Missed dose - If you miss a dose of this dietary supplement, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage - To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children because iron overdose is especially dangerous in children. As few as 3 or 4 adult iron tablets can cause serious poisoning in small children. Vitamin-iron products for use during pregnancy and flavored vitamins with iron often cause iron overdose in small children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this dietary supplement from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplements or those no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.