ferric citrate

What is the most important information I should know about ferric citrate?

What is ferric citrate?

Ferric citrate contains iron that binds to the phosphates you take in through food, which helps your body absorb fewer phosphates. This can lower the amount of phosphorus (a mineral) in your blood.

Ferric citrate is used to control phosphorus levels in adults with chronic kidney disease who are on dialysis.

Ferric citrate is also used to treat iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease who are not on dialysis.

Ferric citrate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ferric citrate?

• iron overload disorder (hemochromatosis).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;
• a stomach or intestinal disorder;
• stomach bleeding; or
• stomach or intestinal surgery.

Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy or while you are nursing.

How should I take ferric citrate?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Ferric citrate contains iron, which is absorbed and stored by your body while you are taking this medicine. To make sure your body is not storing too much iron, you will need frequent blood tests to check your iron levels.

You may need to follow a special diet while using ferric citrate. Follow all instructions of your doctor or dietitian. Learn about the foods to eat or avoid to help control your condition.

Keep the bottle tightly closed and out of the reach of children. Accidental iron overdose is a leading cause of death in children younger than 6 years old.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine (with food) as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking ferric citrate?

Avoid taking other medicines at the same time of day with ferric citrate.

What are the possible side effects of ferric citrate?

• severe stomach problems (pain, vomiting, diarrhea); or
• high potassium --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common side effects may include:

• diarrhea, constipation;
• darker color in your bowel movements;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or
• cough.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect ferric citrate?

If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately from your dose of ferric citrate:

• An antibiotic called doxycycline: take this medicine at least 1 hour before you take ferric citrate.
• An antibiotic called ciprofloxacin: take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take ferric citrate.

Other drugs may affect ferric citrate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about ferric citrate.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 5/2/2018.