"Ferum Lek": reviews about the use in children or in pregnancy

Is the drug "Ferum Lek" effective? You can find reviews about the medicine in the materials of this article. From it you will find out also in what form this remedy is made, how and in what dosage it should be used, whether it can be administered to pregnant women and children.

Composition, shape

Currently, the drug "Ferum Lek", reviews about which are mostly positive, can be purchased in the following forms:

• Tablets for chewing dark brown color of round shape and with a bevel. The composition of this drug includes: dextrate, ferric trivalent iron hydroxide, macrogol, aspartame, chocolate flavor and talc.
• Suspension "Ferum Lek" (syrup). Reviews of experts say that this form of the drug is available in the form of a transparent liquid of brown color. The composition of the medicine includes iron hydroxide polymaltosate, sucrose, ethanol, sorbitol solution, cream flavor, methyl parahydroxybenzoate, sodium hydroxide, propyl parahydroxybenzoate, purified water.
• Solution "Ferum Lek" (injections). The doctors' comments say that this form of medicine is intended for intramuscular injection. The solution contains trivalent iron hydroxide with dextran, water for injection, 6-molar sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid.

Pharmacology

What is Ferum Lek? The reviews say that this is an anti-anemia agent. Iron hydroxide polymaltose is its active substance. This element is an important component of such protein structures as myoglobin and hemoglobin. The physiological role of this component is to transport oxygen to tissues and internal organs. In the process of cellular respiration, it facilitates the movement of electrons through the membranes in the oxidative metabolism that occurs during the proliferation and growth of young tissues.

It should also be noted that iron is an integral part of most of the enzymes normally found in the human body. In the composition of biocatalysts this component accelerates the course of vital processes of hydroxylation and oxidation at the subcellular level, thereby maintaining the normal state of the living organism.

Pharmacokinetics

Syrup and chewable tablets are administered orally. Therefore, their pharmacokinetic characteristics are largely similar. These funds are slowly absorbed from the digestive tract. In this case, most of the iron settles in the liver, where it enters the bone marrow and is included in the active cycle of hemoglobin synthesis. The remaining substance is excreted together with the cells of the intestinal epithelium, then, by urine and bile.

The solution for intramuscular administration has other pharmacokinetic features. Its active component enters not only the bone marrow, but also into other peripheral tissues.

Indications for use

What is the purpose of the drug "Ferum Lek"? Reviews (tablets and syrup develop slowly) say that the oral forms of this drug are used when:

• Iron deficiency anemia;
• Latent iron shortage;
• For the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy.

As for the solution for intramuscular injections, its effect is much faster, therefore it is prescribed for:

• The impaired ability of the microelement to be absorbed through the digestive tract;
• Severe iron deficiency due to bleeding;
• The impossibility of treating a patient with oral iron preparations.

Contraindications

Under what conditions of the patient can not prescribe the drug "Ferum Lek"? Comments of doctors report the following prohibitions:

• With hemosiderosis (pigmentary dystrophy), which is characterized by the deposition of hemosiderin;
• With increased sensitivity to the drug, hereditary or acquired intolerance of its components;
• When the mechanisms of iron utilization are disrupted;
• With hemochromatosis, that is, with hereditary disease, which is characterized by the accumulation of iron in excess;
• With anemia, which is not accompanied by a deficiency of this trace element (hemolytic anemia or thalassemia).

If you enter the drug "Ferum Lek" intramuscularly (reviews will be presented later), the list of contraindications will be broader:

• Infectious diseases of the kidneys in the stage of exacerbation;
• 1st trimester of pregnancy;
• Hyperparathyroidism, which is not amenable to drug control;
• Osler-Randu-Weber syndrome;
• Hepatitis is infectious;
• Cirrhosis of the liver in the decompensated phase.

All forms of the preparation "Ferum Lek" should be used with extreme caution in the following pathologies:

• Chronic polyarthritis;
• bronchial asthma;
• heart failure;
• Lack of folic acid;
• Low ability of binding of iron.

Is it possible to apply "Ferum Lek" for children? Experts say that this drug can not be used in pediatric practice, until the baby reaches 4 months of age.

Methods of application

Oral forms of the drug are taken during or immediately after a meal. Tablets can be chewed and swallowed in their entirety.

If the taste of the syrup you do not like, then it can be mixed with vegetable or fruit juice.

The daily dose of the medicine should be divided into several receptions or taken at a time.

With iron deficiency anemia, the duration of therapy with this drug is 3-5 months. After the recovery of hemoglobin, therapy should continue for several more weeks.

Dosage of syrup:

• Children up to a year - 2,6-5 ml;
• Children 1-12 years old - 6-10 ml;
• Children from 12 years and adults - 11-30 ml per day.

In the first three months of treatment, tablets are prescribed 1 unit three times a day. After the normalization of hemoglobin, the dosage is reduced to 1 tablet once a day (for several months).

With latent iron deficiency, the course of therapy should last 1-2 months.

The solution for intramuscular injections is difficult to use. Therefore, for injections it is necessary to contact a hospital.

Before the administration of the drug, a test dose is taken. To do this, use ¼ ampoules. If no side effects occurred after 15 minutes, the remaining amount of the daily dose should be used.

Dosage of the solution is calculated by the following formula: total iron deficiency (mg) / 100 mg = number of ampoules.

Application during pregnancy

Do you prescribe the drug "Ferum Lek" during pregnancy? Experts say that during the gestation of the fetus, you can use this medication.

In iron deficiency anemia, women are prescribed 3 chewable tablets per day or 25-30 ml of syrup. After normalizing the hemoglobin level, a maintenance dose equal to 10 ml of syrup or 1 tablet (until the end of the gestation period) is used.

The solution for injections when carrying the fetus is not recommended.

Side effects

Against the background of taking this medication, the following side effects may occur:

• Dyspeptic indigestion;
• Diarrhea or constipation;
• Pain in the epigastric region, a feeling of heaviness and overflow of the stomach;
• Dark staining of the stool.

In view of the fact that the solution for intramuscular injection is more active than oral forms, the side effects on the background of its use can be more pronounced, and also manifested as:

• Enlarged lymph nodes;
• Arterial hypotension;
• Muscle and joint pain;
• Malaise;
• Hyperthermia;
• Headache and dizziness;
• Allergic reactions.

Reviews about the preparation of iron

According to the patients' estimates, taking the drug "Ferum Lek" not only corrects laboratory blood counts (balance of serum iron, hemoglobin), but also significantly improves the overall condition of patients.

After taking a course of therapy, many people note an unprecedented ease in the body.

Those patients who received a solution for intramuscular injections reported that the injections were completely painless and at the same time as effective as possible.

Admission of this product in the recommended dosages improves appetite, skin color, condition of nails and hair.