A patient is diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. The physician prescribes ferrous sulfate. Which of the following is a contraindication for ferrous sulfate therapy?
Explanation
• Ferrous sulfate causes significant GI effects and can worsen pre-existing conditions such as ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcer disease, enteritis. Other contraindications include hemochromatosis, infectious kidney disease, and hypersensitivity to iron
• Generally, iron is considered safe during pregnancy
• Iron should be used with caution in the elderly, but this is not an absolute contraindication
• Cirrhosis is not a contraindication