Fefol Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Fefol Capsule contains ferrous sulfate (dried) and folic acid and belongs to the iron supplement, or haematinic, drug class. It is used to prevent and treat iron-deficiency anaemia and to support folic acid and iron needs during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The capsule is designed to release iron slowly as it passes through the gut. It should always be swallowed whole with water, not chewed or sucked.

What is Fefol Capsule

Fefol is an iron and folic acid supplement. Iron is a mineral your body needs to make red blood cells, and folic acid is a vitamin needed to help produce and maintain new cells.

Fefol Capsule uses

• Prevent iron-deficiency anaemia
• Treat iron-deficiency anaemia
• Prevent folic acid deficiency during pregnancy
• Iron supplementation during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Prevent iron deficiency in menstruating women
• Treat iron-deficiency anaemia caused by poor diet, dietary restrictions, ageing, pregnancy, breastfeeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, hookworm infection, bleeding stomach ulcers, or bleeding piles

Benefits of Fefol Capsule

• Iron Support: Helps prevent or treat iron deficiency.
• Anemia Management: Supports treatment of iron-deficiency anemia.
• Hemoglobin Support: Provides iron needed for normal hemoglobin production.
• Red Blood Cell Support: Helps support healthy red blood cell formation.
• Folate Support: Provides folic acid, which contributes to normal blood-cell production.
• Energy Support: Correcting iron deficiency may help improve tiredness and weakness associated with anemia.

How Fefol Capsule works

Iron helps the body rebuild haemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Folic acid is changed in the body into a related form that helps build genetic material and mature red blood cells, working together with vitamin B12. The capsule is designed to release the iron slowly as it passes through the gut, so it reaches the parts of the intestine that absorb it best while causing less stomach irritation.

Fefol Capsule dosage

Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water; do not chew, suck, or hold it in your mouth, as this can cause mouth ulcers and tooth staining. Do not take with hot liquids. If swallowing whole is difficult, the capsule can be opened and the pellets mixed with soft, cool food or taken from a spoon with water, but the pellets must not be chewed or sucked.

Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, such as in the morning or between meals, but it can be taken after food if it upsets your stomach. Avoid taking it within one to two hours of tea, coffee, milk, eggs, or whole-grain foods, as these can reduce iron absorption. Meals with meat or vitamin C can help your body absorb more iron. This medicine is not recommended for children or elderly patients.

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember; if your next dose is due within two hours, take one dose and skip the next; never take a double dose.

Available forms and strengths

• Sustained-release capsules

Side effects of Fefol Capsule

Common

• Upset stomach
• Stomach pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Darkening of the stools

Serious

• Allergic reactions such as skin rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, or collapse
• Mouth ulcers from incorrect use (chewing, sucking, or holding the capsule in the mouth)
• Ulceration of the throat, food pipe, or airway if the capsule is not swallowed properly, especially in elderly patients or those with swallowing difficulty
• Tooth discolouration

Warnings and precautions

• Do not chew, suck, or hold the capsule in your mouth, as this can cause mouth ulcers and tooth discolouration; swallow it whole with water.
• This medicine is not recommended for children or elderly patients.
• Overdose can be fatal, especially in children, so keep this medicine well out of their reach.
• Do not take this medicine if you are receiving repeated blood transfusions, receiving iron through a vein, or have a condition causing excess iron storage such as haemochromatosis.
• If you choke on the capsule, see a doctor promptly, as it could damage your airway and cause ulcers or narrowing of the airway if it goes down the wrong way.
• Fefol is recommended for use during pregnancy, but you should check with your doctor first, especially in the first 12 weeks. It is also recommended while breastfeeding, but check with your doctor first.
• This medicine should not be used if you have severe kidney problems or severe liver problems.
• Alcohol can interact with this medicine; tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.
• This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Storage

• Do not store above 25°C (some sources state below 30°C)
• Keep the capsules in the carton to protect them from light
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children, as an overdose may be fatal
• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the pack
• If you notice broken capsules or other signs the medicine has gone off, take them to your pharmacist for advice before use
• Do not throw away medicines in wastewater or household rubbish; ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer need

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
• If you or someone else may have taken too many capsules, contact your nearest hospital emergency department or your doctor immediately, and bring the pack with you if possible.
• Seek urgent medical attention if you notice persistent coughing, coughing up blood, or breathlessness, even if a choking episode happened days or months earlier, as this could mean the capsule affected your airway.

Alternatives

• Ferrous Sulfate
• Ferrous Gluconate
• Feroglobin