Citation

Bateman DN. Medicine (Abingdon) 2003; 31(10): 54-55.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Medicine Publishing)

DOI

10.1383/medc.31.10.54.27813

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Numerous iron preparations are available on prescription and over the counter, the latter types commonly co-formulated with vitamins. Acute iron poisoning occurs mainly in childhood, partly because iron preparations are usually brightly coloured tablets indistinguishable from sweets. Adults occasionally ingest large quantities in self-poisoning episodes.

Iron content - the amount of iron salt contained in a tablet or syrup must be distinguished from its elemental iron content, because the latter is a better guide to toxicity than the former. •
A 200 mg ferrous fumarate tablet contains 65 mg of elemental iron.
•
A 200 mg ferrous sulphate tablet contains 60 mg.
•
A 300 mg ferrous gluconate tablet contains only 35 mg.


Such differences become more important as the number of tablets involved in a poisoning episode increases. Some combined iron and vitamin preparations contain toxicologically insignificant amounts of iron, but others contain as much ferrous sulphate as prescribed preparations; this should be checked with a poisons information service. Serious toxicity is unlikely unless more than 60 mg of elemental iron per kilogram body weight has been ingested; 180-300 mg/kg is fatal.