Tonoferon is a comprehensive antianaemia preparation that offers therapeutic amount of iron in the form of colloidal ferric hydroxide and provides greater compliance for continuance of  anaemia therapy. Other two important haematopoietic factors present in it are vitamin B12 and folic acid that cause reversal of erythrocyte disorder from megaloblastic to normoblastic with consequent return of blood picture to normal

      
Composition

Actions

Inadequacy of iron in the diet is best reflected in the high prevalence of anaemia and supplementation of iron is therefore desired. Principles of iron therapy, however, are (a) high index of utilisation i.e small dosage giving rise to effective haemopoiesis, (b) low irritability allowing greater compliance of therapy and (c) availability of soluble form of iron for better absorption. Tonoferon has colloidal ferric hydroxide which provides the highest amount of elemental iron (52.26%) of the commonly available oral iron preparations. It is reported that the percentage of iron absorption increases almost linearly with the percentage of iron content of the compound irrespective of their valencies.

The iron in Tonoferon being in the colloidal form, undergoes ready conversion into soluble form by the action of gastric acid and is easily reduced to ferrous form by mucoproteins available in the secretions of the stomach and small intestine along with other constituents like succinic acid and ascorbic acid, assuring its greater and better absorption with minimal gastric irritation resulting in greater acceptability.

Both vitamin B12 and folic acid in Tonoferon help cell metabolism, DNA synthesis, normal haemopoiesis and combined deficiencies of both vitamin B12 and folic acid are common due to dietary inadequacies, defective intestinal absorption and increased demand during pregnancy and lactation. However, deficiencies of B vitamins, other than folic acid and vitamin B12 , rarely act as important limiting factors for haemopoiesis in man.

Indications

Tonoferon is useful for the treatment of common iron deficiency anaemia associated with dietary inadequacy, convalescence; anaemia frequently observed in old age and adolescence, in women from menarche to menopause, menorrhagia; microcytic or macrocytic anaemia of pregnancy; dimorphic anaemia associated with blood loss during surgery; chronic blood loss in bleeding piles; chronic infections like tuberculosis, malaria, hepatic diseases and increased body need in certain physiological conditions.

Contraindications

Patients with pernicious anaemia.

Adverse Reactions

Precautions

Underlying causes should be determined in cases where anaemia exists. Folic acid may mask the presence of pernicious anaemia due to reversal of blood picture to normal but not affecting the progression of neurological manifestations. In older patients and in those with conditions tending to vitamin B12 depletion, serum B12 levels should be regularly assessed during therapy and in persons with vitamin B12 deficiency concomitant parenteral vitamin B12  therapy may be necessary. Oral iron may aggravate existing peptic ulcer, regional enteritis and ulcerative colitis. Oral iron therapy can impair absorption of tetracycline antibiotics. Concomitant therapy with antacids diminishes iron absorption.

Drug Interactions

Absorption of iron may be affected by concurrent administration of antacids. On concomitant administration of iron and tetracycline the absorption of both the drugs is markedly reduced leading to diminished therapeutic effectiveness.

Dose

5 ml twice daily after meals or as directed by the physician.

Duration of Treatment

.Packing

Phials 200 ml, 400 ml