What is clozapine?

Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication. It works by changing the actions of chemicals in the

brain.

Clozapine is used to treat severe schizophrenia. It is also used to reduce the risk of suicidal
behavior in people with schizophrenia or similar disorders.

Clozapine is usually given after other medications have been tried without successful treatment
of symptoms.

Clozapine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about clozapine

Clozapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Clozapine may cause heart
failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions. You should
not take clozapine if you are allergic to it, or if you have untreated or uncontrolled epilepsy, a
bone marrow disorder, paralytic ileus or intestinal blockage, a history of infection caused by
taking clozapine, or if you are also using drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer
medicine or steroids). Clozapine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This
can make it easier for you to develop a serious or life-threatening infection. This risk is higher in
women and older adults, and in people who are malnourished or have serious medical problems.

While you are taking clozapine, your blood will need to be tested every week for the first 6
months of treatment, and then every 2 to 4 weeks.

Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may
occur during treatment with clozapine. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection
such as: fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, mouth or throat ulcers, cough, sore throat, rapid
heart rate, or rapid and shallow breathing.

There are many other medicines that can interact with clozapine. Tell your doctor about all
medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products.
Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and
show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Before taking clozapine

Clozapine is not for use in psychotic conditions related to dementia. Clozapine may cause heart
failure, sudden death, or pneumonia in older adults with dementia-related conditions. You should
not take clozapine if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

 untreated or uncontrolled epilepsy;

 a bone marrow disorder;
  paralytic ileus or intestinal blockage;
 a history of infection caused by taking clozapine; or
 if you are also using drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or
steroids).

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a clozapine dose adjustment or special
tests:

 heart disease, heart rhythm disorder, high blood pressure;

 history of heart attack or stroke;
 epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
 lung disease;
 liver or kidney disease;
 diabetes;
 a history of bone marrow or blood cell disorders;
 an enlarged prostate or urination problems;
 glaucoma; or
 if you smoke.

FDA pregnancy category B. Clozapine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor
if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Clozapine can pass into breast
milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are taking clozapine.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings in more detail

Clozapine orally-disintegrating tablets contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using
this form of clozapine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

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How should I take clozapine?

Take clozapine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or
for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Clozapine can be taken with or without food.

Take the regular oral tablet (Clozaril) with a full glass of water.

The orally-disintegrating tablet (FazaClo) can be taken without water. Keep the tablet in its
blister pack until you are ready to take it. Gently peel back the foil from the blister pack and drop
the tablet onto your dry hand. Place the tablet in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away.
Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. Swallow
several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the
dissolved tablet.

If your doctor has prescribed one-half of an orally-disintegrating tablet, you will need to break
the tablet in half. Throw the other half away. Do not save it for later use.

Clozapine can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for
you to develop a serious or life-threatening infection. This risk is higher in women and older
adults, and in people who are malnourished or have serious medical problems. While you are
taking clozapine, your blood will need to be tested every week for the first 6 months of
treatment, and then every 2 to 4 weeks. Your doctor may also want to check your blood for
several weeks after you stop using clozapine. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor. If
you stop taking clozapine for more than 2 days in a row, call your doctor before you start taking
it again. If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using clozapine.

Store clozapine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Clozapine dosage in more detail

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your
next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, fast heart rate, drooling, weak or
shallow breathing, fainting, and seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking clozapine?

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly
and steady yourself to prevent a fall. Clozapine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful
if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase
some of the side effects of clozapine.
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Clozapine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to clozapine:
hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Serious and sometimes
fatal infections may occur during treatment with clozapine. Call your doctor right away if you
have signs of infection such as:

 fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

 mouth and throat ulcers;
 cough, sore throat;
 rapid heart rate; or
 rapid and shallow breathing.

Stop using clozapine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

 seizure (black-out or convulsions);

 skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
 fast or pounding heartbeats, chest pain, unusual tiredness, trouble breathing;
 feeling short of breath (even at night or with mild exertion), swelling in your hands or
feet;
 feeling like you might pass out;
 slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing (breathing may stop);
 high blood sugar (increased thirst, extreme hunger, fruity breath odor, increased
urination, drowsiness);
 very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats,
tremors;
 twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs; or
 nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Less serious clozapine side effects may include:

 constipation;
 dry mouth, blurred vision;
 drooling, especially at night;
  increased sweating;
 drowsiness, dizziness, spinning sensation; or
 sleep problems.

This is not a complete list of clozapine 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.

See also: Clozapine side effects (in more detail)

Clozapine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Clozapine Dose for Schizophrenia:

Treatment resistant schizophrenia:

Initial dose: 12.5 mg orally once or twice a day.
Maintenance dose: If the first dose is well- tolerated, dosages may then be titrated in daily
increments of 25 mg to 50 mg for approximately two weeks until a daily dose of 300 to 450 mg
is achieved. If, after the initial titration, a larger dose is necessary a slower increase in dose, not
to exceed a 100 mg increment once or twice a week, may be initiated. Cautious titration and a
divided dosage schedule may minimize the risks of hypotension, seizure, and sedation in the
patient. However, sedation following daytime doses may necessitate administration of most or all
of the daily dose at bedtime.
Maximum clozapine dose: 900 mg per day.

Reduction of the risk of recurrent suicidal behavior in patients with schizophrenia or

schizoaffective disorder:
Initial dose: 12.5 mg orally once or twice a day.
Maintenance dose: If the first dose is well- tolerated, dosages may then be titrated in daily
increments of 25 mg to 50 mg for approximately two weeks until a daily dose of 300 to 450 mg
is achieved. If, after the initial titration, a larger dose is necessary a slower increase in dose, not
to exceed a 100 mg increment once or twice a week, may be initiated. Cautious titration and a
divided dosage schedule may minimize the risks of hypotension, seizure, and sedation in the
patient. However, sedation following daytime doses may necessitate administration of most or all
of the daily dose at bedtime.
Maximum clozapine dose: 900 mg per day.

What other drugs will affect clozapine?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

 any other antipsychotic medication;

 bosentan (Tracleer);
 cimetidine (Tagamet);
 dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);
 lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
  St. John's wort;
 armodafanil (Nuvigil) or modafanil (Progivil);
 atropine (Donnatal, and others), belladonna, clidinium (Quarzan), dicyclomine (Bentyl),
scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
 an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S, Ery-Tab),
rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin);
 an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine
(Luvox), or sertraline (Zoloft);
 diazepam (Valium) or similar medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam
(Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), temazepam (Restoril), and others;
 heart rhythm medications such as propafenone (Rythmol), flecaininde (Tambocor), or
quinidine (Quin-G);
 HIV medication such as efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), nevirapine
(Viramune), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra);
 phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), promethazine (Pentazine,
Phenergan, Anergan, Antinaus), and others; or
 seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol),
oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital (Solfoton), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone
(Mysoline).

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with clozapine. Tell
your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin,
and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all
your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Where can I get more information?

 Your pharmacist can provide more information about clozapine.

 Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-
date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. 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.
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions,
precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2010 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 9.01. Revision Date: 05/27/2010 12:11:08
PM.
Read more: http://www.drugs.com/clozapine.html#ixzz11t9zZuWu

What is Depakote?
Depakote affects chemicals in the body that may be involved in causing seizures.

Depakote is used to treat various types of seizure disorders. It is sometimes used together with
other seizure medications. It is also used to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorders (manic-
depressive illness), and to prevent migraine headaches.

Depakote may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Depakote

In rare cases, Depakote has caused life-threatening liver failure, especially in children younger
than 2 years old. Children may be at even greater risk for liver problems if they use more than
one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic disorder, or if they have a brain disease causing
mental impairment (such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, or
a brain injury or infection). Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking this medicine
has nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored
stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver
damage. Some of these symptoms may also be early signs of pancreatitis. Depakote can cause
birth defects. Do not use this medication without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Use
an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Depakote. Your doctor will need to check
you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior
changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or
physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Before taking Depakote

In rare cases, Depakote has caused life-threatening liver failure, especially in children younger
than 2 years old. Children of this age may be at even greater risk for liver problems if they use
more than one seizure medication, if they have a metabolic disorder, or if they have a brain
disease causing mental impairment (such as Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington disease,
multiple sclerosis, or a brain injury or infection). Depakote has also caused rare cases of life-
threatening pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Pancreatitis can come on suddenly and
symptoms may start even after you have been taking Depakote for several years. Do not take
Depakote if you have liver disease or a urea cycle disorder.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely take Depakote.

 a bleeding or blood clotting disorder;

 a history of head injury, brain disorder, or coma;
 a family history of a urea cycle disorder;
 a family history of infant deaths with unknown cause; or
 HIV or CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection.

You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Depakote. Tell your doctor if you have new
or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several months of treatment, or
whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your
doctor will need to check you at regular visits. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use
Depakote without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become
pregnant during treatment. Depakote can cause birth defects. Use an effective form of birth
control while you are using this medication. Depakote passes into breast milk and could harm a
nursing infant. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.

See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings in more detail

How should I take Depakote?

Take Depakote exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Follow the instructions on your prescription label.

Drink plenty of water while you are taking Depakote. Your dose may need to be changed if you
do not get enough fluids each day.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to be
tested. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Do not stop taking Depakote even if you feel better. It is important to take this medication
regularly to prevent seizures from recurring. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of
medicine completely. Call your doctor promptly if this medicine does not seem to be working as
well in preventing your seizures. Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release or
extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release
medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to
be released at one time.

You may open the Depakote sprinkle capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of
pudding or applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without
chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.

Carry an ID card or wear a medical alert bracelet stating that you are taking this medication, in
case of emergency. Any doctor, dentist, or emergency medical care provider who treats you
should know that you are taking Depakote. Store this medication at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include sleepiness or drowsiness, shallow breathing, weak pulse, or
loss of consciousness.

What should I avoid while taking Depakote?

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Depakote.

Depakote can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you
drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid exposure to sunlight or
artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Depakote can make your skin more sensitive to
sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective
clothing if you must be out in the sun.
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Depakote side effects
Seek emergency medical attention if the person taking Depakote has nausea, vomiting, stomach
pain, or loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the
skin or eyes). These symptoms may be early signs of liver damage. Some of these symptoms
may also be early signs of pancreatitis.

Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior
changes, depression, anxiety, or if you feel agitated, hostile, restless, hyperactive (mentally or
physically), or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Depakote:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

 unexplained weakness with vomiting and confusion or fainting;

 easy bruising or bleeding, blood in your urine;
 fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
 fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
 urinating less than usual;
 hallucinations (seeing things that aren't there);
 extreme drowsiness, lack of coordination; or
 double vision or back-and-forth movements of the eyes.

Less serious Depakote side effects may include:

 mild drowsiness or weakness;

 diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach;
 depression, anxiety, or other emotional changes;
 changes in your menstrual periods;
 enlarged breasts;
 tremor (shaking);
 hair loss;
 weight changes;
 vision changes; or
 unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any
unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Depakote side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Depakote?

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine
for depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by Depakote. Tell your doctor if you
regularly use any of these medicines, or any other seizure medication.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

 topiramate (Topamax);
 tolbutamide (Orinase);
 a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
 aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol);
 zidovudine (Retrovir);
 clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo);
 diazepam (Valium);
 meropenem (Merrem);
 rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater); or
 ethosuximide (Zarontin);

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Depakote. Tell your
doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a
new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

 Your pharmacist can provide more information about Depakote.

 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 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision Date: 05/07/2009 2:32:40
PM.

What is ferrous sulfate?

Ferrous sulfate is a type of iron. You normally get iron from the foods you eat. In your body, iron
becomes a part of your hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your
blood to tissues and organs. Myoglobin helps your muscle cells store oxygen.

Ferrous Sulfate is an essential body mineral. Ferrous sulfate is used to treat iron deficiency
anemia (a lack of red blood cells caused by having too little iron in the body).

Ferrous sulfate may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about ferrous sulfate

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take ferrous sulfate if you have iron overload
syndrome, hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells), porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder
that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system), thalassemia (a genetic disorder of
red blood cells), if you are an alcoholic, or if you receive regular blood transfusions.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if
anyone has accidentally swallowed it. An overdose of iron can be fatal, especially in a young
child.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, coughing up
blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, shallow breathing, weak and rapid pulse, pale
skin, blue lips, and seizure (convulsions).

Take ferrous sulfate on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Avoid
taking antacids or antibiotics within 2 hours before or after taking ferrous sulfate.

Ferrous sulfate is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include a special
diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition
counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should eat to make sure
you get enough iron from both your diet and your medication.

Before taking ferrous sulfate

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take ferrous sulfate if you have:

 iron overload syndrome;

 hemolytic anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
 porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous
system);
 thalassemia (a genetic disorder of red blood cells);
 if you are an alcoholic; or
 if you receive regular blood transfusions.

It is not known whether ferrous sulfate could be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if
you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether ferrous sulfate passes into breast
milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use ferrous sulfate without telling your doctor if
you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give ferrous sulfate to a child without the advice of a doctor.

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How should I take ferrous sulfate?

Use ferrous sulfate exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it
in larger amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take ferrous sulfate on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Avoid
taking antacids or antibiotics within 2 hours before or after taking ferrous sulfate . Take ferrous
sulfate with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet
or capsule. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug
to be released at one time. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a
dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or
medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask
your pharmacist for one.

Ferrous sulfate can stain your teeth, but this effect is temporary. To prevent tooth staining, mix
the liquid form of ferrous sulfate with water or fruit juice (not with milk) and drink the mixture
through a straw. You may also clean your teeth with baking soda once per week to treat any
tooth staining.
Ferrous sulfate is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include a special
diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition
counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you should eat to make sure
you get enough iron from both your diet and your medication.

Store ferrous sulfate at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

See also: Ferrous Sulfate dosage in more detail

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until
then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine, or if a
child has accidentally swallowed it. An overdose of ferrous sulfate can be fatal to a child.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, coughing up
blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, shallow breathing, weak and rapid pulse, pale
skin, blue lips, and seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking ferrous sulfate?

Avoid taking any other multivitamin or mineral product within 2 hours before or after you take
ferrous sulfate. Taking similar mineral products together the same time can result in a mineral
overdose or serious side effects.

Avoid taking an antibiotic medicine within 2 hours before or after you take ferrous sulfate. This
is especially important if you are taking an antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro),
demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), levofloxacin
(Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin),
norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin,
Tetracap).

Certain foods can also make it harder for your body to absorb ferrous sulfate. Avoid taking this
medication within 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating fish, meat, liver, and whole grain or
"fortified" breads or cereals.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your
doctor recommends. Antacids contain different medicines and some types can make it harder for
your body to absorb ferrous sulfate.
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Ferrous sulfate side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may include:

 constipation;
 upset stomach;
 black or dark-colored 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.

See also: Ferrous Sulfate side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect ferrous sulfate?

The following drugs can interact with ferrous sulfate. Tell your doctor if you use any of these:

 acetohydroxamic acid (Lithostat);

 chloramphenicol;
 cimetidine (Tagamet);
 etidronate (Didronel);
 dimercaprol (an injection used to treat poisoning by arsenic, lead, or mercury);
 levodopa (Larodopa, Dopar, Sinemet);
 methyldopa (Aldomet); or
 penicillamine (Cuprimine).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with ferrous sulfate. Tell
your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals,
herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without
telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

 Your pharmacist can provide more information about ferrous sulfate.
 Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use ferrous sulfate 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.