Hemofer

Hemofer has anti-anemic properties.

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Indications Hemofera

It is used for therapy of the following diseases:

• anemia of a posthemorrhagic nature (after childbirth or surgery, as well as with profuse bleeding);
• iron deficiency anemia;
• iron deficiency in the body.

To prevent the development of anemia, the medication is used:

• in pregnant or lactating women;
• in children and adolescents during periods of intensive growth;
• for newborns born as a result of multiple pregnancies;
• for premature babies;
• for adults who are vegetarians or blood donors.

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Release form

The product is released in drops, inside bottles with a volume of 10 or 30 ml.

Also available in the form of dragees (volume 325 mg), 30 pieces per package.

Pharmacodynamics

The antianemic drug contains iron (2-valent salt) and is used for therapy in conditions when the body has a deficiency of the element Fe. Iron is a component of myoglobin with hemoglobin, as well as enzymes; it is an important participant in tissue respiration processes. Some of the substance entering the body is spent on the process of binding iron-containing compounds, and the remainder is deposited inside the spleen with the liver. The body's daily requirement for iron is 3 mg.

Hemofer helps to replenish iron deficiency and promotes hemoglobin binding. In case of anemia, the therapeutic effect of the drug develops after 10 days of use, and the supply of necessary iron is restored after 3 months of continuous use.

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Pharmacokinetics

The substance is absorbed inside the small intestine (mostly inside the duodenum). The amount of absorption is determined by the degree of iron deficiency - absorption increases with increasing deficiency of the element. With a strong deficiency, absorption is 10-30% (with normal values - a maximum of 15%). As these values stabilize, the volumes of absorbed iron inside the gastrointestinal tract decrease.

In addition, absorption is determined by the valence of iron, as well as the pH level of gastric juice. Fe2+ substances are easily absorbed inside the small intestine. The drug penetrates into the hemoglobin, getting inside the bone marrow.

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Dosing and administration

The drops are taken orally, between meals, diluted with juice or plain water. If the patient experiences negative symptoms, the medicine should be taken after eating. The daily dose can be divided into several doses. The dosages are calculated as follows: a child should take 3 mg/kg per day, and an adult should take 0.2 g. At the same time, 1 ml of the drug contains 44 mg of iron, and 1 drop contains 1.6 mg of iron.

To treat anemia, it is necessary to take the medicine for a long time - within 3-5 months. In severe iron deficiency, hemoglobin normalization occurs after 2-3 months. But at the same time, to restore the reserves of this element, the medicine must be taken for several more months (preventive doses are used).

Serving sizes for children and adults:

• A premature baby is prescribed 1 drop per day.
• for infants under 12 months – 10-19 drops;
• children aged 1-12 years – 28 drops per day;
• for an adult – use 55 drops twice a day.

For prevention, half the therapeutic dosage should be used.

The medication may stain tooth enamel; to prevent this from happening, the drops should be taken through a straw.

The pills are used on an empty stomach or between meals. They can also be used immediately after meals. To prevent the development of the disease, adolescents from 12 years of age and adults need to take 1 pill once a day. To treat anemia - 1 pill twice a day.

The therapy lasts for 0.5-5 months.

It is important to take into account that both forms of the drug may cause stool to become dark in color.

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Contraindications

Among the contraindications:

• the presence of intolerance to the elements of the therapeutic agent;
• hemosiderosis or chromatosis;
• anemia, which has a hemolytic or aplastic form;
• disorder of iron absorption processes;
• gastrointestinal dysfunction that interferes with iron absorption.

Caution is needed when using in people with ulcerative colitis, ulcers or enteritis.

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Side effects Hemofera

The use of the medication may cause some side effects:

• headaches with dizziness;
• a feeling of pressure in the sternal region;
• abdominal pain, nausea, feeling of heaviness in the epigastrium, constipation or bowel movement disorder;
• manifestations of allergies;
• a feeling of malaise or weakness and facial flushing.

Overdose

In cases of poisoning, vomiting, increased heart rate, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, collapse, increased capillary permeability and increased blood pressure are observed.

In case of intoxication with very large doses of drugs, diarrhea with blood develops, bleeding and intestinal perforation may be observed.

Therapy begins with a gastric lavage procedure and the administration of laxatives to the victim. After this, the substance deferoxamine is used, which has the ability to synthesize iron.

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Interactions with other drugs

Antacids slightly reduce iron absorption.

Food products (especially dairy products, eggs and milk) weaken the absorption of Hemofer. At the same time, vitamin C, on the contrary, increases the degree of absorption of the drug.

The drug weakens the therapeutic properties of levodopa, tetracyclines, quinolones, and also penicillin, levothyroxine, methyldopa, zinc salts and sulfasalazine.

Chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, colloidal bismuth citrate, as well as pancreatin, cholestyramine and colestipol reduce the medicinal effect of Hemofer. Tocopherol has similar properties.

It is necessary to avoid combining the drug with the substance allopurinol.

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Storage conditions

Hemofer must be kept at temperatures between 15-25°C.

Shelf life

Hemofer drops can be used within 24 months from the date of release of the therapeutic agent. The shelf life of the dragee is 36 months.

Analogues

The analogs of the drug are Aktiferrin, Ferronat, Tardiferon and Iron Fumarate with Totema and Sorbifer Durules, as well as Ferro-Folgamma, Ferrogradumet and Ferroplex.

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Reviews

Hemofer (iron sulfate) has higher absorption rates than iron gluconate or fumarate. According to reports on medical forums, many patients used this drug, mainly pregnant women and those with iron deficiency anemia. Usually, therapy began with oral administration of the drug, but occasionally (in cases of absorption disorders, poor tolerance, or conditions after previous resection in the small intestine), it was prescribed as intramuscular injections.

An adult can use the drug both in drops and in pills, but for a child it is prescribed exclusively in drops. During therapy, children showed stabilization of hemoglobin levels after 1.5-2.5 months.

During mild anemia, the duration of the treatment cycle was 1.5 months, with a moderate form - 2 months, and with a severe stage - 2.5 months. Half doses were recommended to patients for prevention, which usually lasts 4-6 weeks. The effectiveness of the therapy was noted after 7-10 days: reviews indicate that hyperhidrosis, a feeling of fatigue and weakness, as well as dizziness disappeared.

But it should also be noted that many patients refused to use the drug due to the development of negative symptoms. After taking the drug, irritation of the gastric mucosa (the substance dissolves inside the stomach) and intestinal mucosa (absorption occurs here) developed. Many patients complained of stomach pain, nausea and stool disorders.

To minimize the development of negative reactions in the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to start therapy with a quarter of the required portion, and then gradually increase to the use of the full dosage (over 7 days). To reduce the irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract, it is necessary to take the medicine after meals.