![](https://images-its.chemistdirect.co.uk/bioconcepts-brand-banner.jpg?q=80&o=QcAHkdREPb49B8bzShtD6yDcXkgj&V=EEhW)
Medicine interactions with iron
Before taking iron supplements, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications. Iron tablets may interact with other drugs and alter their effect. Consider the following drug interactions with iron:
Iron tablets interact with antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics) and alter their effectiveness. One way to avoid this interaction is to take your iron tablets two hours before or two hours after taking any antibiotics. Some antibiotics that interact with iron tablets are:
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- enoxacin (Penetrex)
- norfloxacin (Chibroxin, Noroxin)
- sparfloxacin (Zagam)
- trovafloxacin (Trovan)
- grepafloxacin (Raxar)
Iron interacts with tetracycline antibiotics in the stomach as well and decreases how much tetracycline antibiotics the body can absorb. You can avoid this interaction by taking iron two hours before or four hours after taking tetracyclines. Some tetracyclines that interact with iron include:
- demeclocycline (Declomycin)
- minocycline (Minocin)
- tetracycline (Achromycin)
Iron taken along with bisphosphonates decreases the amount of bisphosphate the body absorbs and decreases its effectiveness. This interaction can be avoided by taking bisphosphonate two hours before taking iron or later in the day. Some bisphosphonates that interact with iron include:
- alendronate (Fosamax)
- etidronate (Didronel)
- risedronate (Actonel)
- tiludronate (Skelid)
Iron might decrease the effectiveness of levodopa and how much of it the body is able to absorb. Do not take iron and levodopa at the same time. Iron interacts with levothyroxine. Levothyroxine is used for treating low thyroid function conditions and should not be used with iron, as iron can decrease how much levothyroxine the body can absorb. Certain brands that contain levothyroxine include:
- Armour Thyroid
- Eltroxin
- Estre
- Euthyrox
- Levo-T
- Levothroid
- Levoxyl
- Synthroid