In the article, we will consider how to take Ferlatum.
This is a medicine that helps make up for the lack of iron in the body. This pharmacological product is available in the form of solutions for internal administration. The solution is characterized by transparency, a brownish color, a pleasant cherry smell.
Structure
In the composition of this medication, there is such a basic substance as iron protein succinylate in a dosage of 800 mg.
Excipients are: propylene glycol, sorbitol, sodium methyl parahydroxybenzoate, sodium propyl parahydroxybenzoate, cherry flavor, sodium saccharin, purified water.
In addition to solutions, this medication is also produced in the form of a powder. Its composition contains the main element - calcium folinate pentahydrate in a dosage of 235 mg. An auxiliary substance in the content of the powder is mannitol.
Let us consider in more detail the instructions for use, price and reviews of Ferlatum.
pharmachologic effect
It is an antianemic drug that contains iron and calcium folinate, and makes up for the lack of these elements in the body. The main function of iron in the body is oxygen transfer. This element is part of myoglobin, hemoglobin, iron-containing enzymes - cytochromes. It is responsible for electron transfer and functions as a catalyst for oxidative reactions, hydroxylation reactions and other metabolic processes.
The medication contains iron protein succinylate, which is a compound where ferric iron atoms are surrounded by a semisynthetic protein carrier that prevents damage to the gastric mucosa. The protein carrier dissolves in the duodenum, releasing the element at the optimal absorption site.
Ferric iron enters the blood from the intestines through active absorption, which makes it impossible to overdose.
Calcium folinate is a calcium salt of folic acid, which can make up for the lack of folate in the body.
Indications
The drug for anemia is prescribed in the treatment of latent and clinically pronounced lack of folate, and, in addition, iron. It can be used for prophylactic purposes to prevent the deficiency of these microelements during pregnancy, during lactation, during periods of active growth, after heavy and prolonged bleeding, with unbalanced and malnutrition.
How to take Ferlatum?
This medication is taken orally after a meal or in front of it. Adult patients are prescribed 1-2 bottles per day in 2 divided doses or in accordance with medical recommendations.
Children from birth are prescribed 1.5 ml / kg / day in 2 divided doses.
During pregnancy
During the expectation of the baby, women often experience anemia. With intrauterine development, the fetus takes the necessary substances from maternal blood, including iron. If the expectant mother suffers from severe toxicosis, wears twins, her diet lacks vitamins and minerals, has chronic pathologies of the kidneys and liver, and she often develops IDA.
Pregnant women are usually prescribed 1 vial per day for prophylaxis. In the treatment of latent or clinically severe iron deficiency - 1-2 bottles.
After normalizing hemoglobin and iron in serum, treatment is continued in a maintenance dosage for another 8-12 weeks.
Contraindications
The drug "Ferlatum" in tablets should not be taken in the presence of such pathological conditions:
- hemochromatosis;
- non-deficient anemia (megaloblastic, provoked by a deficiency of vitamin B12, hemolytic anemia);
- disorder of iron utilization processes (siderohrestic and lead anemia);
- chronic pancreatitis;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- high sensitivity to the components of the drug.
With caution, you should take this remedy for peptic ulcer, malabsorption in pathologies of the small intestine (enteritis, resection of the small intestine, syndrome of insufficient absorption, etc.).
Price
The cost of this pharmacological drug in pharmacies ranges from 530 to 570 rubles. It depends on the region.
How to take Ferlatum correctly, it is important to find out in advance.
Special recommendations
The continuous period of use of the medication should not be more than 6 months, except in cases where the patient has chronic blood loss (including hemorrhoids, menorrhagia). This also does not apply to the period of pregnancy.
Due to the possible likelihood of developing an allergy, this drug should be used with caution in people with milk protein intolerance.
The medicine contains sorbitol, therefore, it is not recommended to prescribe it to patients with hereditary fructose intolerance.
Drug interaction
With the combined use of the interaction of the drug "Ferlatum" with other drugs, drugs were not noted.
The absorption of iron increases with the simultaneous use of this drug with ascorbic acid in a dosage of more than 200 mg.
Iron absorption may decrease while taking the medication with antacids. Chloramphenicol provokes a delayed response to iron therapy.
Some anti-leukemic and antitumor drugs (including methotrexate, aminopterin and other pterin derivatives) may exhibit the functions of folate antagonists.
Symptoms of iron deficiency in the body
Iron deficiency conditionally can be divided into two main stages: iron deficiency anemia and latent gland deficiency. With a latent form of insufficiency of this microelement, the following pathological symptoms are noted:
- the hemoglobin level in the blood is normal;
- tissue stores of iron are reduced;
- clinical manifestations of iron deficiency in the patient are not observed;
- the functionality of iron-containing enzymes gradually decreases;
- a compensatory increase in absorption in the intestines of iron in adult patients is characteristic.
Typical symptoms of iron deficiency are frequent headaches, weakness, palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath even with minor physical exertion, muscle weakness, a change in taste and smell, a decrease in appetite, flickering flies in the eyes, and tinnitus.
Symptoms and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in women and men are interrelated.
In addition, the most common symptom of iron deficiency is pallor of the skin. There is peeling and excessive dryness of the skin, hair loss and brittleness, exfoliation of nails, sticks can occur in the corners of the lips. In addition, such patients often develop dyspeptic disorders. All these symptoms of iron deficiency in the body largely depend on the severity of the pathological process and the duration of the shortage.
What is IDA?
According to statistics, iron deficiency anemia or IDA (ICD 10 - D50) most often occurs in women who have reached reproductive age, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It should be noted that with such violations, there is a specific series of specific symptoms that indicate the development of this disease. The principle of development of iron deficiency anemia is that, against the background of a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, the number of blood cells also decreases.
Anemia is the main accompanying symptom of pathologies of internal organs - the intestines, liver, spleen, and a sign of frequent blood loss. A lack of iron in the female body is the main cause of anemia in more than 70% of all cases. Due to the lack of this microelement, the formation of hemoglobin stops, and the blood carries less oxygen (several times).
Consider the symptoms and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in women.
Symptoms in women
In the clinical picture of this pathology, the following general syndromes are distinguished:
- sideropenic;
- circulatory-hypoxic;
- asthenovegetative.
Circulatory-hypoxic disorders that occur with iron deficiency anemia worsen the course of concomitant diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The development of this syndrome is due to a change in hemoglobin synthesis, as a result of which oxygen transportation suffers, and tissue hypoxia occurs. This pathological phenomenon with anemia is equally common in both women and men. Clinically, this is manifested by excessive drowsiness, general weakness, dizziness, tinnitus, fainting, palpitations, as well as excessive sensitivity to low temperatures, shortness of breath that occurs during physical exertion, and in severe forms of anemia - and at rest.
The principle of development of sideropenic syndrome is caused by a deficiency of iron-containing enzymes in the body tissues (peroxidase, cytochromes, catalase). Lack of such substances becomes the cause of trophic disturbances observed in iron deficiency anemia from the mucous membranes and skin. Signs of sideropenic syndrome are dry skin, excessive fragility and deformation of the nail plates, severe hair loss, dysphagia, atrophic gastritis, glossitis, angular stomatitis, taste distortion, dysuric disorders, muscle weakness.
With asthenovegetative syndrome, emotional lability, increased irritability, memory impairment, decreased performance are observed.
In women, iron deficiency develops with heavy uterine bleeding caused by a disease or menstrual cycle, and this is the most common cause of pathology. In addition, often such a condition accompanies the process of bearing a child, which is extremely dangerous, especially for the fetus, since with iron deficiency hypoxia develops, which can lead to miscarriage and malformations.
Disease treatment
The main methods of treating iron deficiency anemia include the elimination of various etiological factors, the replenishment of iron deficiency and the correction of the diet. Etiotropic therapy is prescribed and carried out by such narrow specialists as gynecologists, gastroenterologists, proctologists and hematologists. In iron-deficient conditions, women are shown good nutrition with the inclusion in the diet of products that contain heme iron (veal, beef, lamb, rabbit meat, liver, tongue). It should be borne in mind that citric, ascorbic and succinic acids contribute to increased ferrosorption in the digestive system. Polyphenols and oxalates (tea, coffee, soy protein, chocolate, milk), dietary fiber, calcium and other substances inhibit iron absorption.
However, even good nutrition is not able to eliminate the neglected iron deficiency, therefore, patients with hypochromic anemia, in most women, are shown replacement treatment with ferrodrugs. Iron-based medications, such as Ferlatum, are prescribed for a course of at least 1.5–2 months. After the hemoglobin level in the blood is normalized, maintenance treatment is carried out for 4-6 weeks with a reduced dose of the iron preparation.
For the pharmacological correction of this disease, ferric and ferrous iron preparations are used. With vital indications, specialists can resort to blood transfusion therapy.
Reviews about the drug "Ferlatum"
Patients who were prescribed this pharmacological drug, in the reviews about it, note that they were satisfied with the results of treatment. With a slight decrease in hemoglobin in patients, a rapid normalization of the condition and the elimination of symptoms of anemia were noted. Patients who suffered from advanced forms of the disease indicate that they needed to take this medication for several months, but even so, the therapy yielded positive results.
Adverse reactions to the medicine “Ferlatum” have arisen in humans extremely rarely. The most common among them were dyspeptic disorders and stool disorders. In general, as patients note, this drug is well tolerated by the body. We examined how to take Ferlatum.