Ferrous salt/folic acid

{{Short description|Chemical compound}}

{{Infobox drug

| drug_name =

| type = combo

| component1 = Ferrous salt

| class1 = mineral

| component2 = Folic acid

| class2 = vitamin

| pronounce =

| tradename = Fefol, Galfer FA, others

| Drugs.com = {{Drugs.com|mtm|ferrous-sulfate-and-folic-acid}}

| MedlinePlus =

| pregnancy_AU =

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| CAS_number = 60473-87-2

| ATCvet =

| ATC_prefix = B03

| ATC_suffix = AD

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}}

Ferrous salt/folic acid is a supplement used to prevent iron deficiency and folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. It can also be used to treat iron deficiency anemia. It is a fixed dose combination of ferrous salt and folic acid. It is taken by mouth.{{cite book | title = WHO Model Formulary 2008 | year = 2009 | isbn = 9789241547659 | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | veditors = Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR | hdl = 10665/44053 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | hdl-access=free |pages=249–50 }}

Side effects may include dark stools, constipation, and abdominal pain. Caution is advised in people with hemochromatosis. Excessive use in children can cause serious problems.{{cite web|title=Fefol Spansule Capsules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)|url=https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/26784|website=www.medicines.org.uk|accessdate=18 December 2016|date=2 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220194437/https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/26784|archivedate=20 December 2016}}

Ferrous salt/folic acid was approved for medical use in the United States as early as 1946. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.{{cite book | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | title = World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019 | year = 2019 | hdl = 10665/325771 | author-link = World Health Organization | publisher = World Health Organization | location = Geneva | id = WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO | hdl-access=free }} It is not currently commercially available as a combination in the United States.{{cite web|title=Ferrous sulfate and folic acid medical facts from Drugs.com|url=https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ferrous-sulfate-and-folic-acid.html|website=www.drugs.com|accessdate=18 December 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221013423/https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ferrous-sulfate-and-folic-acid.html|archivedate=21 December 2016}}