A patient taking oral iron may be noncompliant for a number of reasons.
Risk factors for noncompliance with oral replacement therapy:
(1) forget
(2) gastrointestinal side effects
(3) lack of education about the benefits of iron
(4) history of noncompliance with other medications
(5) pregnant AND continued smoking
Factors associated with greater compliance:
(1) education about benefits of iron therapy
(2) single daily dose
(3) lower dose (GI side effects may be dose dependent)
(4) dosing reminders
