• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Interactions

What is multivitamin with iron?
Multivitamins are a combination of many different vitamins that are normally found in foods and other natural sources. Iron is normally found in foods like red meat. In the body, iron becomes a part of your hemoglobin (HEEM o glo bin) and myoglobin (MY o glo bin). Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your blood to tissues and organs. Myoglobin helps your muscle cells store oxygen. Multivitamins and iron are used to provide vitamins and iron that are not taken in through the diet. They are also used to treat iron or vitamin deficiencies caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, and many other conditions.

Back to Top

What are the possible side effects of multivitamins with iron?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor if you have serious side effects such as:

• bright red blood in your stools; or

• pain in your chest or throat when swallowing a ferrous fumarate tablet.

When taken as directed, multivitamins are not expected to cause serious side effects. Less serious side effects may include:

• constipation, diarrhea;

• nausea, vomiting, heartburn;

• stomach pain, upset stomach;

• black or dark-colored stools or urine;

• temporary staining of the teeth;

• headache; or

• unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Back to Top

How should I take multivitamins with iron?
Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Never take more than the recommended dose of multivitamins with iron. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin or mineral overdose or serious side effects. Many multivitamin products also contain minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any multivitamin product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about multivitamins with iron?
Never take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin. Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar vitamin products together can result in a vitamin or mineral overdose or serious side effects. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Iron and other minerals contained in a multivitamin can also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect multivitamins with iron?
Vitamin and mineral supplements can interact with certain medications, or affect how medications work in your body. Before taking multivitamins with iron, tell your doctor if you also use: acetohydroxamic acid (Lithostat); cimetidine (Tagamet); deferoxamine (Desferal); etidronate (Didronel); diuretics (water pills); heart or blood pressure medications; tretinoin (Vesanoid); isotretinoin (Accutane, Amnesteen, Clavaris, Sotret); dimercaprol (an injection used to treat poisoning by arsenic, lead, or mercury);

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Multivitamin with iron has been assigned to pregnancy category A by the FDA when administered in doses advocated by the FDA. Doses above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) are assigned to the pregnancy category of each individual active ingredient for the dose administered. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Multivitamin with iron is only recommended for use in pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of multivitamin with iron into human milk. Vitamins are naturally present in breast milk. Several reports suggest that iron supplementation during lactation does not significantly affect the total concentration of iron in human milk. Multivitamin with iron preparations are generally considered safe for the infant by most clinicians as long as doses do not exceed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for lactation designated for each active ingredient.

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Iron and other minerals contained in a multivitamin can also cause serious overdose symptoms. Overdose symptoms may include severe stomach pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, coughing up blood, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, warmth or tingly feeling, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine or stools, black and tarry stools, pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, weakness, shallow breathing, weak and rapid pulse, pale skin, blue lips, and seizure (convulsions).

Back to Top

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking multivitamins with iron?
Iron and certain vitamins can cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken in large doses. Do not take more of this medication than directed on the label or prescribed by your doctor. If you have any medical conditions, ask your doctor before taking a multivitamins with iron. If you have certain conditions, you may need a certain vitamin formulation or special tests while taking this product. Do not take multivitamins with iron without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins and minerals can harm an unborn baby if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top