New dosing regimen of oral iron for iron deficiency anaemia in children

As outlined in ‘Medicines update: oral iron for the management of iron deficiency anaemia in infants and children’,1 the dosing of oral iron salts for adults has changed significantly following guidance published in 2021 by the British Society of Gastroenterology.2 A simpler treatment regimen with dosing given less frequently (once per day or on alternate days) is as effective, has fewer side effects, and can increase compliance compared with traditional dosing regimens (two or three times per day). This prompted the British National Formulary (BNF) editorial team to review the dosing of oral iron salts in BNF and BNF for Children (BNFC).