Drug interactions
Ferrous gluconate + Tetracycline
Severity: Moderate
Ferrous gluconate and Tetracycline: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Oral iron binds tetracycline in the gut, forming poorly absorbed complexes. This lowers tetracycline blood levels and can lead to treatment failure.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ferrous gluconate and Tetracycline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Ferrous gluconate belongs to Miscellaneous; Tetracycline belongs to Anti Bacterial.
Why it happens
Chelation of tetracycline by ferrous iron in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing absorption.
What to do
Give oral tetracycline at least 2 hours before or 3 to 4 hours after the iron preparation. Separating the doses avoids the need to stop either drug.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Tetracycline
- Acitretin + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Methoxyflurane + Tetracycline Contraindicated
- Isotretinoin + Tetracycline Major
- Palovarotene + Tetracycline Major
- Strontium ranelate + Tetracycline Major
- Tetracycline + Tretinoin Major
Other interactions of Ferrous gluconate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ferrous gluconate with Tetracycline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ferrous gluconate and Tetracycline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Oral iron binds tetracycline in the gut, forming poorly absorbed complexes. This lowers tetracycline blood levels and can lead to treatment failure.
How serious is the interaction between Ferrous gluconate and Tetracycline?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Give oral tetracycline at least 2 hours before or 3 to 4 hours after the iron preparation. Separating the doses avoids the need to stop either drug.
What other medicines interact with Tetracycline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tetracycline with, for example, Acitretin, Methoxyflurane, Isotretinoin. The full list is on the Tetracycline page.
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