carbonyl iron

Generic Name: carbonyl iron (car BAH nill I ern)Brand names: Elemental Iron, Feosol Caplet, Icar, Iron Chews, Ferra-Cap

What is carbonyl iron?

Carbonyl iron is a form of the mineral iron. Iron is important for many functions in the body, especially for the transport of oxygen in the blood.

Carbonyl iron is used as a dietary supplement, and to prevent and to treat iron deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia.

Carbonyl iron may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about carbonyl iron?

Keep this medication out of the reach of children. An accidental overdose of iron by a child can be fatal.

Carbonyl iron may decrease the absorption of other medicines. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking carbonyl iron if you take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Who should not take carbonyl iron?

Do not take carbonyl iron if you have

• hemochromatosis,

• hemosiderosis, or

• hemolytic anemia.

Carbonyl iron may be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

If you do not have an iron deficiency, talk to your doctor about the use of carbonyl iron. Generally, carbonyl iron should not be taken chronically by individuals with a normal iron balance.

Talk to your doctor before taking carbonyl iron if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor before taking carbonyl iron if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take carbonyl iron?

Take carbonyl iron exactly as directed by your doctor, or as directed on the package. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each tablet with a full glass of water. Take carbonyl iron on an empty stomach for best results. If stomach upset occurs, take carbonyl iron with food or following a meal.

Shake the suspension well before measuring a dose. To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the liquid form of carbonyl iron with a dose measuring cup or spoon, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Carbonyl iron may decrease the absorption of other medicines. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking carbonyl iron if you take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Store carbonyl iron at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Keep this medication out of the reach of children. An accidental overdose of iron by a child can be fatal.

See also: Carbonyl iron dosage in more detail

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time to take next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a carbonyl iron overdose include decreased energy; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; tarry stools; a weak, rapid pulse; fever; coma; seizures; and death.

What should I avoid while taking carbonyl iron?

Keep this medication out of the reach of children. An accidental overdose of iron by a child can be fatal.

Carbonyl iron may decrease the absorption of other medicines. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking carbonyl iron if you take any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Carbonyl iron side effects

If you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives), stop taking carbonyl iron and seek emergency medical attention.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue taking carbonyl iron and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience

• stomach upset,

• nausea or vomiting,

• constipation,

• diarrhea,

• black or darker than normal appearing stools, or

• temporary staining of the teeth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Carbonyl iron Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Iron Deficiency Anemia:

50 mg orally three times a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Iron Deficiency Anemia:

Premature neonates:2 to 4 mg elemental iron/kg/day divided every 12 to 24 hours (maximum daily dose = 15 mg).Infants and children <12 years:Prophylaxis: 1 to 2 mg elemental iron/kg/day (maximum 15 mg) in 1 to 2 divided doses.Mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia:3 mg elemental iron/kg/day in 1 to 2 divided doses.Severe iron deficiency anemia:4 to 6 mg elemental iron/kg/day in 3 divided doses.

What other drugs will affect carbonyl iron?

Do not take carbonyl iron within 2 hours of a dose of any of the following medicines

• a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Achromycin, Sumycin), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox), demeclocycline (Declomycin), oxytetracycline (Terramycin), or troleandomycin (TAO);

• a fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), enoxacin (Penetrex) ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), grepafloxacin (Raxar), sparfloxacin (Zagam), or trovafloxacin (Trovan);

• levodopa (Larodopa, Dopar, Sinemet);

• levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, others);

• methyldopa (Aldomet); or

• penicillamine (Cuprimine).

Carbonyl iron may decrease the absorption of the drugs listed above.

Do not take antacids within 2 hours of a dose of carbonyl iron. Antacids may decrease the absorption of carbonyl iron.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with carbonyl iron. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines while taking carbonyl iron.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about carbonyl iron written for health professionals that you may read.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.02. Revision Date: 4/12/2009 4:43:44 PM.