Description
Ferrous fumarate is the ferrous salt form of fumarate. One of its most important applications is being used as iron supplements for the treatment of iron deficiency and anemia. It has been demonstrated that application of ferrous sulfate drops or a single daily dose of microencapsulated ferrous fumarate sprinkles plus ascorbic acid both result in successful treatment of anemia without remarkable side effects. However, recent studies have also shown that compared to other iron supplements, ferrous fumarate has a highest rate of inducing adverse reactions such as erosive mucosal injury in the gastrointestinal tract as well as nausea, vomiting and epigastric discomfort.
Chemical Properties
§184.1307d(a) Ferrous fumarate (iron(II)fumarate, C4H2Fe04) is an odorless, reddish-orange to reddish-brown powder. It may contain soft lumps that produce a yellow streak when crushed. It is prepared by admixing hot solutions of ferrous sulfate and sodium fumarate.
Chemical Properties
brown to reddish-brown powder
Originator
Toleron,Mallinckrodt Inc.,US,1957
Manufacturing Process
Sodium carbonate (53.5 pounds of Na2CO3-H2O) was dissolved in water (40 to
45 gallons) and fumaric acid (50 pounds) was added slowly. During the
addition the solution was stirred and heated. The resulting solution of sodium
fumarate, having a pH of 6.8, was added slowly with mixing to a solution of
ferrous sulfate (118 pounds FeSO4-7H2O in 33 gallons of water) having a pH
of 3.3, both solutions being maintained at or near boiling temperature during
the mixing. The resulting slurry of reddish-brown anhydrous ferrous fumarate
was filtered and washed in a centrifuge and dried in a tray drier (15 hours at
110°C). Yield: 63 pounds, 86% of theory. Calculated for FeC4H2O4: Fe,
32.9%. Found: Fe, 32.6%. Only 0.2% of ferric iron (Fe+++) was found.
Therapeutic Function
Hematinic
General Description
Ferrous fumarate is a commonly used inexpensive substitute for other forms of iron, that is employed as a food iron fortificant.
Pharmaceutical secondary standards for application in quality control, provide pharma laboratories and manufacturers with a convenient and cost-effective alternative to the preparation of in-house working standards.
Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Clinical Use
Iron deficiency anaemia
Drug interactions
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Antibacterials: reduced absorption of 4-quinolones
and tetracyclines.
Dimercaprol: avoid concomitant use.
Mycophenolate: may significantly reduce absorption
of mycophenolate.
Metabolism
Molecular weight (daltons) 169.9
% Protein binding -
% Excreted unchanged in urine -
Volume of distribution (L/kg) -
Half-life - normal/ESRF (hrs) -
References
Zlotkin, Stanley, et al. "Treatment of anemia with microencapsulated ferrous fumarate plus ascorbic acid supplied as sprinkles to complementary (weaning) foods." The American journal of clinical nutrition 74.6 (2001): 791-795.Cancelo-Hidalgo, María Jesús, et al. "Tolerability of different oral iron supplements: a systematic review." Current medical research and opinion 29.4 (2013): 291-303.
