From the Guidelines
The recommended dose of iron for treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is 50-100 mg of elemental iron per day, taken as a single dose, with ferrous sulfate being a commonly used preparation 1. This dose is based on the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anemia in adults, which suggest that a once daily dose of 50-100 mg of elemental iron may be the best compromise option for initial treatment 1. The guidelines also recommend monitoring the initial hematological response and modifying the treatment regimen as needed, with options including alternate day oral iron, oral ferric maltol, or parenteral iron for patients with significant intolerance to oral iron therapy 1. Key considerations in treating IDA include:
- Starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing as needed to improve tolerability
- Taking iron supplements on an empty stomach or with vitamin C to enhance absorption
- Regular monitoring of hemoglobin and ferritin levels to assess response to treatment and determine when to discontinue supplementation
- Adjusting the dosage and duration of treatment based on the severity of deficiency and individual patient factors
- Considering alternative oral preparations or parenteral iron for patients who do not tolerate traditional oral iron therapy 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
- 1 Recommended Dosage Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia For patients weighing 50 kg or more, the recommended dosage is: Injectafer 750 mg intravenously in two doses separated by at least 7 days for a total cumulative dose of 1,500 mg of iron per course In adult patients, Injectafer 15 mg/kg body weight up to a maximum of 1,000 mg intravenously may be administered as a single-dose per course. For patients weighing less than 50 kg, the recommended dosage is Injectafer 15 mg/kg body weight intravenously in two doses separated by at least 7 days per course
The recommended dose of iron for treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is:
- For patients weighing 50 kg or more: 750 mg intravenously in two doses separated by at least 7 days for a total cumulative dose of 1,500 mg of iron per course
- For adult patients: 15 mg/kg body weight up to a maximum of 1,000 mg intravenously may be administered as a single-dose per course
- For patients weighing less than 50 kg: 15 mg/kg body weight intravenously in two doses separated by at least 7 days per course 2
From the Research
Recommended Dose of Iron for Treating Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)
The recommended dose of iron for treating IDA varies depending on the severity of the condition and the patient's response to treatment.
- According to 3, dosing cycles are recommended for iron replacement based on the tolerated daily dose and the total iron deficit, with each cycle consisting of 5000 mg of oral elemental iron ingested over at least 1 month.
- The World Health Organisation recommends a dose of elemental iron equivalent to 60 mg per intake, in the range of 60 and 120 mg/day according to the severity of iron-deficiency anaemia 4.
- Recent studies suggest that oral iron doses ≥60 mg in iron-deficient women, and doses ≥100 mg in women with IDA, stimulate an acute increase in hepcidin that persists 24 h after the dose, but subsides by 48 h, and that doses should be given on alternate days to maximize fractional iron absorption 5.
- Other studies recommend 100 mg ferrous fumarate once a day for symptom-free patients with anaemia, and 200 mg/day for patients with severe anaemia or symptoms 6.
- A comparison of daily oral iron replacement therapy with every other day treatment in female reproductive age patients with iron-deficiency anemia found that both regimens were effective in improving hemoglobin levels and iron stores, but that every other day treatment may improve patient compliance 7.