ORAL IRON THERAPY
The dosage of elemental iron required to treat iron
deficiency anemia in adults is 120 mg per day for three
months; the dosage for children is 3 mg per kg per day,
up to 60 mg per day.1
An increase in hemoglobin of 1 g
per dL after one month of treatment shows an adequate
response to treatment and confirms the diagnosis.16 In
adults, therapy should be continued for three months
after the anemia is corrected to allow iron stores to
become replenished7
(Figure 36,28,31).
Adherence to oral iron therapy can be a barrier to
treatment because of GI adverse effects such as epigastric
discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. These
effects may be reduced when iron is taken with meals,
but absorption may decrease by 40 percent.1
Medications
such as proton pump inhibitors and factors that induce
gastric acid hyposecretion (e.g., chronic atrophic gastritis,
recent gastrectomy or vagotomy) are associated with
reduced absorption of dietary iron and iron tablets.