Is Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) Safe with Omeprazole?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Take iron supplement at least 2 hours before omeprazole or on an empty stomach. Consider taking with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to enhance absorption. Monitor ferritin and hemoglobin levels periodically.
Why this interaction occurs
Omeprazole raises gastric pH above 4, impairing the conversion of ferric iron (Fe³⁺) to the more absorbable ferrous form (Fe²⁺). Acidic conditions are essential for this reduction step. Chronic PPI use can lead to iron deficiency anemia, particularly in patients with increased iron demands.
Evidence
Evidence level: strong.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 365,179 reports mentioning Omeprazole. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Omeprazole + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) interactions → · All Omeprazole interactions →
Already checked this one — check your whole list
Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.