Study: Iron Supplement Doesn't Interfere With Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication

Iron-deficient rheumatoid arthritis patients who take ferrous sulfate supplements do not have to worry that it will interfere with their methotrexate medication, according to a study reported in the Journal of Rhuematology.

A team of Canadian researchers sought to determine whether taking 300 milligrams of ferrous sulfate twice a day interferes with the absorption of methotrexate, a common drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The study involved 10 rheumatoid arthritis patients taking methotrexate who either took ferrous sulfate or a placebo. The researchers found no less absorption of methotrexate for the ferrous sulfate group than the placebo group.

"These results do not support the hypothesis that ferrous sulfate interferes with the absorption of oral methotrexate," concluded the researchers.

Other sources: Journal of Rheumatology 2003;30:1948-50