Taking ferrous fumarate with other medicines and herbal supplements - Brand names: Fersamal, Galfer

Cautions with other medicines

There are some medicines that may affect how ferrous fumarate works.

Ferrous fumarate can also affect the way other medicines work. It's a good idea to leave a gap between taking ferrous fumarate and any other medicine. Ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice on how long the gap should be.

Before you start taking ferrous fumarate, tell a pharmacist or doctor if you're taking any of these medicines:

• iron injections
• antacids and other indigestion remedies
• antibiotics such as oxytetracycline, doxycycline or ciprofloxacin
• antivirals used for HIV infection such as bictegravir or dolutegravir
• laxatives containing magnesium such as magnesium hydroxide or milk of magnesia
• medicines used to treat or prevent osteoporosis (bisphosphonates), such as alendronic acid or risedronate
• cholestyramine, a medicine used to reduce cholesterol
• eltrombopag, a medicine used to increase platelets in the blood
• levothyroxine, a medicine used to treat an underactive thyroid
• levodopa, carbidopa or entacapone, medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease
• mycophenolate, a medicine used after an organ transplant
• methyldopa, a medicine used to treat high blood pressure
• penicillamine, a medicine used to treat arthritis
• trientine, a medicine used to treat Wilson's disease

Mixing ferrous fumarate with herbal remedies or supplements

Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal remedies or supplements together with ferrous fumarate. Some vitamin and mineral supplements may already contain ferrous fumarate.

Tell a pharmacist or doctor if you take any supplements or remedies that contain iron, calcium, magnesium or zinc. Ferrous fumarate can stop zinc working as well as it should. Calcium can reduce the effect of ferrous fumarate.