title: Adverse reactions - Neonatal Intensive Care Drug Manual
text: ORAL iron
  GI irritation: Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, dark stools (green or black), gastric mucosal erosion
  IV iron
  General: Flushing, sweating, chills and fever; chest and back pain
  Hypersensitivity, anaphylaxis
  Gastrointestinal: Nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain
  Central nervous system: Headache; dizziness
  Musculoskeletal: Joint and muscle pain; arthralgia; sensation of stiffening of the arms, legs or face
  Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, hypotension, circulatory collapse
  Respiratory: Bronchospasm with dyspnoea
  Haematological: Generalised lymphadenopathy
  Dermatological: Rash, urticarial, angioneurotic oedema
  Adverse reactions may be delayed by 1–2 days after treatment with Ferrosig iron or Ferrum H (iron polymaltose) injection
  Oral and IV
  Increased RBC haemolysis and haemolytic anaemia in preterm infants with low vitamin E concentrations
  Rickets – with large doses of iron over a prolonged period
  Acute toxicity – more severe GI effects including haematemesis and melaena, lethargy, pallor, cyanosis and shock
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