Comparing Sorbifer and Maltofer | Determining the best

Updated: 04/23/2021 15:12:57

Expert: Abramova Tsilya

According to WHO, two billion people on the planet suffer from anemia. These are mainly women and children - those for whom the lack of iron and other microelements is critical. In Russia, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, anemia is detected in every third child and in more than half of pregnant women. Men suffer less often, however, they are not protected from this disease.

Iron supplements are used to treat iron deficiency anemia. In this article we will look at two products - Sorbifer Durules and Maltofer. Both drugs have shown to be effective in fighting the disease. Sorbifer acts quickly, but is less well tolerated. Maltofer works slowly, but is less likely to cause side effects. What causes this difference, read on.

Comparison of the effectiveness of Totema and Ferlatuma Foul

Ferlatum Fol is more effective than Totema - this means that the ability of the medicinal substance to provide the maximum possible effect is different.
For example, if the therapeutic effect of Ferlatum Fol is more pronounced, then it is impossible to achieve this effect with Totema even in large doses.

Also, the speed of therapy is an indicator of the speed of the therapeutic action of Ferlatum Fol and Totema, as well as bioavailability - the amount of a medicinal substance reaching the place of its action in the body. The higher the bioavailability, the less it will be lost during absorption and use by the body.

Indications for use

Iron supplements are prescribed for iron deficiency anemia. According to WHO, this condition most often develops against the background of an unbalanced diet. Less commonly, the cause of anemia is acute or chronic bleeding. In pediatric practice, anemia often occurs during periods of rapid child growth, when the need for iron increases.

Anemia is diagnosed using a general blood test. The patient donates blood from a finger or vein, and the doctor evaluates the hemoglobin level. If hemoglobin drops below 120 g/l (110 g/l during pregnancy), iron supplements are prescribed. If necessary, an additional blood test for ferritin and other indicators is prescribed.

Both drugs - Sorbifer and Maltofer - are used for iron deficiency anemia, but there are some nuances:

1. Sorbifer acts faster, so it is used for moderate and severe anemia (hemoglobin below 90 g/l). The drug increases hemoglobin levels in one month.
2. Maltofer acts more slowly, so it is more often used in mild anemia (hemoglobin 90-120 g/l). It improves in two months.
3. In pediatric practice, iron supplements are prescribed in the form of drops or syrup.
4. Injectable forms of the drug are indicated for intolerance to tablet options or intestinal diseases with impaired iron absorption.
5. The duration of therapy is at least one month. After the specified period, a control blood test is prescribed to determine the level of hemoglobin and red blood cells. According to indications, the course of treatment continues.

Comparison of security between Totema and Ferlatuma Foul

The safety of a drug includes many factors.

At the same time, Ferlatum Fol’s is higher than Totema’s. It is important where the drug is metabolized: drugs are excreted from the body either unchanged or in the form of products of their biochemical transformations. Metabolism occurs spontaneously, but most often involves major organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, brain and others. When assessing the metabolism of Ferlatum Fol, as well as Totema, we look at which organ is the metabolizing organ and how critical the effect on it is.

The risk-benefit ratio is when the prescription of a drug is undesirable, but justified under certain conditions and circumstances, with the obligatory observance of caution in use. At the same time, Ferlatum Foul has fewer risks when used than Totema.

Also, when calculating safety, it is taken into account whether only allergic reactions occur or possible dysfunction of the main organs. In other matters, as well as the reversibility of the consequences of using Ferlatum Fol and Totems.

Side effects and precautions

Clinical trials show that Sorbifer more often causes adverse reactions:

1. nausea;
2. vomit;
3. abdominal pain;
4. constipation;
5. ulcerative lesions of the esophagus;
6. headache;
7. skin redness;
8. weakness;
9. allergic rash.

Maltofer is better tolerated and rarely causes adverse reactions.

Both drugs cause black stool and darkening of tooth enamel. These phenomena are not dangerous and do not require discontinuation of the medication.

Sorbifer and Maltofer are approved for use during pregnancy and lactation. There is no evidence that these drugs can interfere with fetal development. But this does not mean that you can self-medicate. Only a doctor can prescribe any medications to pregnant and lactating women!

Sorbifer and Maltofer are not used in children under 12 years of age - there is no data on the safety of therapy.

Comparison of addiction in Totema and Ferlatuma Fol

Like safety, addiction also involves many factors that must be considered when evaluating a drug.

So, the totality of the values ​​of such parameters as “syndrome” in Totema is quite similar to the similar values ​​in Ferlatum Fol. Withdrawal syndrome is a pathological condition that occurs after the cessation of intake of addictive or dependent substances into the body. And resistance is understood as initial immunity to a drug; in this it differs from addiction, when immunity to a drug develops over a certain period of time. The presence of resistance can only be stated if an attempt has been made to increase the dose of the drug to the maximum possible. At the same time, in Totema the meaning of the “syndrome” is quite small, however, just like in Ferlatum Fol.

How do they work

Although the drugs belong to the same pharmaceutical group, they act differently. Experts from our journal reviewed the medical literature and found out how Maltofer differs from Sorbifer. Let's look at each tool in more detail.

Sorbifer

The drug contains divalent iron. For many years this form of element was considered optimal. Doctors conducted research and said that ferrous iron works effectively for anemia:

It is quickly absorbed in the digestive tract and enters the blood from the small intestine.

Within a short time (in 1-1.5 months) it restores iron reserves in the body and improves the patient’s condition.

Therapy with ferrous iron preparations has long been considered the gold standard. But medicine does not stand still, and today scientists say that this form of medicine is unsafe. It turned out that ferrous sulfate has significant disadvantages:

1. Irritates the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and leads to an exacerbation of certain diseases.
2. The process of iron absorption is passive and dose dependent. The more the drug is taken, the more it penetrates into the blood - and the higher the risk of overdose. According to statistics, poisoning with iron salts occurs in 1.6% of cases of all therapy. Mortality is high - up to 41.2% (Koltsov O.V., 2002).

Sorbifer Durules is a typical representative of his group. It acts quickly, easily penetrates the blood, but can also cause an overdose. This does not mean that you should stop using the drug. It is necessary when a quick effect is required - with severe iron deficiency anemia.

Thanks to a special technology, iron is released gradually. The active component is hidden under a plastic shell. It does not react to the presence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, but completely disintegrates when it enters the small intestine. Ascorbic acid, which is part of the drug, improves iron absorption and increases the effectiveness of treatment.

The instructions for the drug indicate: Durules technology provides 30% more iron absorption compared to other drugs from this group. The bioavailability of the drug is high. Iron is absorbed mainly in the duodenum, and partially in the jejunum. 90% of the active substance binds to plasma proteins. Creates a depot in the liver, macrophages, and muscles. Completely eliminated within 12 hours.

Maltofer

Maltofer contains ferric iron. This is a new form of the drug, replacing divalent drugs. In the body, such iron is converted into its usual divalent form. This happens slowly - over 1.5-2 months, so the effect of the drug is not immediately noticeable. For this reason, Maltofer is not prescribed where rapid restoration of iron reserves is needed.

Malfer does not irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and does not lead to an overdose. It is uniformly absorbed from the small intestine, used for the synthesis of hemoglobin in the bone marrow or forms a depot in the liver.

There is an international trend towards a transition from divalent forms of iron to trivalent ones. Increasingly, doctors prescribe Maltofer and other similar drugs for anemia. But here everything is not so clear. A review presented in The Scientific World Journal from 2012 shows that ferric iron preparations cannot yet completely replace ferrous iron. The hydroxide complex does not always cope with its task and cannot quickly restore iron reserves in the body. At the same time, it has been proven that new drugs are easier to digest and better tolerated, so in the future they may become first-line drugs in the treatment of anemia. While this issue is being discussed, doctors use both drugs in practice.

Comparison of Totema and Ferlatuma Fall side effects

Side effects or adverse events are any adverse medical event that occurs in a subject after administration of a drug.

Totema's state of adverse events is almost the same as Ferlatum Fol's. They both have few side effects. This implies that the frequency of their occurrence is low, that is, the indicator of how many cases of an undesirable effect of treatment are possible and registered is low. The undesirable effect on the body, the strength of influence and the toxic effect of Totema is similar to Ferlatum Fol: how quickly the body recovers after taking it and whether it recovers at all.

conclusions

Let's summarize:

1. Sorbifer and Maltofer are used to treat iron deficiency anemia. They increase hemoglobin levels, relieve symptoms of the disease and reduce the risk of complications.
2. Sorbifer contains divalent iron. It acts quickly, but more often causes side effects.
3. Maltofer is a ferric iron preparation. It is slow, but relatively safe.
4. Both remedies are used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Allowed for children over 12 years old.

When treating anemia, it is important not only to take medications, but also to follow a diet. Add red meat and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Move more, walk in the fresh air, play sports. This tactic will help cope with the disease and speed up recovery.

Comparison of ease of use of Totem and Ferlatum Fol

This includes dose selection taking into account various conditions and frequency of doses. At the same time, it is important not to forget about the release form of the drug; it is also important to take it into account when making an assessment.

The ease of use of Totema is approximately the same as that of Ferlatum Fol. However, they are not convenient enough to use.

The drug ratings were compiled by experienced pharmacists who studied international research. The report is generated automatically.

Last update date: 2020-12-04 13:43:07

What kind of iron is inside? Let's compare the composition of the drugs

Maltofer and Sorbifer differ in release form, composition and dosage. More details about each drug are in the table.

The cost of tablet forms is not too different. Sorbifer (30 tablets) will cost 300-400 rubles, Maltofer – 350-450 rubles. The injection form of Maltofer is more expensive - 800-1000 rubles for 5 ampoules.

Application diagram

According to modern concepts, iron supplements are taken orally in the form of tablets, capsules, syrups or drops. Only in certain clinical situations is it permissible to prescribe iron-containing drugs parenterally - in the form of injections - for example, when absorption in the intestine is impaired. Previously, iron supplements were first given intramuscularly, then switched to tablets - in the hope of a faster effect. Clinical trials have shown that a rapid increase in hemoglobin is observed only in the first 40 days of therapy, after which the difference becomes unnoticeable. In the long term, this tactic has no advantage, so now treatment for anemia almost always begins with tableted forms of iron.

When taken orally, iron supplements should be swallowed whole, without chewing, and washed down with water. Tablets can be taken before and after meals, depending on individual tolerance. If nausea, vomiting or stool upset occurs during therapy, it is worth changing the drug regimen.

Treatment with iron-containing drugs must be supplemented with dietary correction. It is not enough to simply increase hemoglobin - you need to prevent it from decreasing again.