ANALYSIS OF HAEMATINIC PREPARATIONS AVAILABLE IN INDIAN MARKET

Abstract

To analyze Haematinic formulations available in Indian market for their varieties of dosage forms, iron salts used, content of elemental iron, frequency of administration required, presence of additional nutrients, rationality and cost. Haematinic formulations listed in IDR 2018, were analysed for salts of Iron present. Preparations of ferrous fumarate were further analysed for Iron content, presence of folic acid and other added additional components. A total of 522 formulations, 291 (55.74%) were oral solid dosage form, 206 (39.46%) were oral liquids and 25 (4.7%) were parenteral. Iron salts in these formulations were in form of ferrous fumarate, carbonyl iron, iron ascorbate, iron ammonium citrate, ferric hydroxide polymaltose complex, ferrous sulphate, sodium hydrate. Carbonyl iron was present in 92 preparations and was most commonly used preparation in oral solid formulations. Some formulations additionally contained Vitamin B12, zinc sulphate, histidine, lysine other multivitamins and calcium preparations in variable proportion. Out of 291 oral solid, 45 (15.46 %) preparations required administration > three times a day to achieve the therapeutic concentration. Average cost of the rational preparation was more than average cost of irrational preparation. Analysis of various haematinics shows there is no uniformity in formulations. Iron and folic acid are added in wide variable range moreover other substances were also added without any well proven evidence. Steps should be taken to standardize these formulations.