PAG 12.1: Investigating Iron Tablets
Iron tablets are readily available in pharmacies across the UK as over the counter medicine.
There are two main names of iron tablets: Ferrous Sulfate, one of two types of iron tablets,
contains kaolin, glucose, povidone, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate,
starch, titanium dioxide and sucrose. They are often either red or white sugar-coated tablets
which are advised to be taken with orange juice or some form of vitamin C.
“Ferrous sulfate (or sulphate) is a type of iron that is used as a medicine to treat and prevent
iron deficiency anaemia. Iron helps the body to make healthy red blood cells, which carry
oxygen around the body. Some things such as blood loss, pregnancy or too little iron in your
diet can make your iron supply drop too low, leading to anemia. Ferrous sulfate comes as
tablets, or as drops that you swallow. It is available on prescription and to buy from
pharmacies.” (NHS)
Iron is an essential component of human bodies and deficiencies can cause many
complications. Indications of iron deficiency are symptoms like tiredness, lack of energy,
headaches, and pale complexions. Iron tablets work by replacing the body’s iron. Iron is
needed in the body to produce red blood cells that transport oxygen from your lungs to vital
organs and tissues around your body. When the body does not get enough iron, it cannot
produce the number of healthy red blood cells needed to keep a person in good health.
Ferrous sulphate tablets supply enough mineral iron to prevent and treat iron-deficiency.
The approximate mass of iron in a standard ferrous sulfate tablet (200mg) is 65mg (about
twice the weight of a grain of rice) of ferrous iron (II). The recommended daily intake of
ferrous sulfate is usually one 200mg (about twice the weight of a business card) tablet per
day, but it can vary between 1-3 tablets per day depending on the severity of anemia (iron-
deficiency) and the patient’s need for iron.
Iron tablets are readily available in pharmacies across the UK as over the counter medicine.
There are two main names of iron tablets: Ferrous Sulfate, one of two types of iron tablets,
contains kaolin, glucose, povidone, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, sodium lauryl sulfate,
starch, titanium dioxide and sucrose. They are often either red or white sugar-coated tablets
which are advised to be taken with orange juice or some form of vitamin C.
“Ferrous sulfate (or sulphate) is a type of iron that is used as a medicine to treat and prevent
iron deficiency anaemia. Iron helps the body to make healthy red blood cells, which carry
oxygen around the body. Some things such as blood loss, pregnancy or too little iron in your
diet can make your iron supply drop too low, leading to anemia. Ferrous sulfate comes as
tablets, or as drops that you swallow. It is available on prescription and to buy from
pharmacies.” (NHS)
Iron is an essential component of human bodies and deficiencies can cause many
complications. Indications of iron deficiency are symptoms like tiredness, lack of energy,
headaches, and pale complexions. Iron tablets work by replacing the body’s iron. Iron is
needed in the body to produce red blood cells that transport oxygen from your lungs to vital
organs and tissues around your body. When the body does not get enough iron, it cannot
produce the number of healthy red blood cells needed to keep a person in good health.
Ferrous sulphate tablets supply enough mineral iron to prevent and treat iron-deficiency.
The approximate mass of iron in a standard ferrous sulfate tablet (200mg) is 65mg (about
twice the weight of a grain of rice) of ferrous iron (II). The recommended daily intake of
ferrous sulfate is usually one 200mg (about twice the weight of a business card) tablet per
day, but it can vary between 1-3 tablets per day depending on the severity of anemia (iron-
deficiency) and the patient’s need for iron.
