Case Scenario

Vivienne, a 78-year-old patient of yours, recently started an iron supplement for iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) diagnosed by her GP. Her current medicines are irbesartan 150 mg once daily, calcium 600 mg (as carbonate) and colecalciferol 25 microgram once daily and ferrous sulfate 325 mg (105 mg elemental iron) once daily. While chatting, she explains she has been taking the iron an hour before breakfast with her morning cup of tea and her other medicines with breakfast. She seems to be adherent to her medicines, except the iron, which she says upsets her stomach. You also learn that her diet includes limited meat or vegetables. 

Learning objectives

After reading this article, pharmacists should be able to: 

  • Describe the symptoms of iron deficiency 
  • Explain the causes and risk factors of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia 
  • Discuss how iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia can be treated. 

Competency (2016) standards addressed: 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, 3.6 

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