Table 1.

Disadvantages of oral iron therapy.

Gastrointestinal adverse events

Lack of adherence to therapy

Insufficient length of therapy

Limited duodenal absorption due to concomitant gastrointestinal pathology (inflammatory bowel disease or any other cause of chronic inflammation, malignancy)

Long course therapy – 1 to 2 months to resolve anemia and 3 to 6 months to replenish body iron stores