Ferromia® Granules is a newly developed medicine for iron deficiency anemia that contains sodium ferrous citrate as an active ingredient. 23 kinds of drugs (e.g., vitamins, anti-ulcer drugs, digestants, antacids, purgatives and antidiarrheals) which may be admixed with Ferromia® Granules were tested for compatibilities, determining the changes in appearance and the moisture absorption.The drug samples were wrapped in polyethylene-laminated glassinepaper and preserved at 25°C with 75%RH for 30 days.
No change in the appearance of Ferromiaio was observed in its admixtures with 21 drugs, but when admixed with HICEE Granules or sodium bicarbonate, Ferromia® Granules became brown. This change was considered to result from incompatibility. On investigation it was found that the change in color was due to a reaction of L-ascorbic acid in HICEE Granules with sodium ferrous citrate in Ferromia® Granules. Ferromia® Granules was not hygroscopic by itself and it was shown that the extent of moisture absorption by admixtures of Ferromia® Granules with other drugs was almost the same as that of each particular drug.
