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Anaemia - iron deficiency - Management
How should I treat iron deficiency anaemia?
- Address underlying causes as necessary (e.g. treat menorrhagia, stop nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if possible).
- Treat with oral ferrous sulphate 200 mg tablets two or three times a day.
- If ferrous sulphate is not tolerated, consider oral ferrous fumarate tablets or ferrous gluconate tablets.
- Do not wait for investigations to be carried out before prescribing iron supplements.
- If dietary deficiency of iron is thought to be a contributory cause of iron deficiency anaemia, advise the person to maintain an adequate balanced intake of iron-rich foods (e.g. dark green vegetables, iron-fortified bread, meat, apricots, prunes, and raisins) and consider referral to a dietitian.
- Monitor the person to ensure that there is an adequate response to iron treatment.
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