Sangobion 120ml Iron & Multivitamin Syrup for Anaemia

Drug Class: Iron + Multivitamin Haematinic Supplement | Form: Oral Syrup | Prescription Status: Over-the-Counter (OTC) — DRAP Registered

What is Sangobion Syrup 120ml?

Sangobion Syrup 120ml is a comprehensive iron and multivitamin supplement used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anaemia (خون کی کمی) — one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in Pakistan — and to replenish essential nutrients during pregnancy, breastfeeding, periods of rapid growth, or whenever diet alone fails to provide adequate iron and vitamins. It contains a carefully selected combination of six active ingredients — Ferrous Gluconate as the primary iron source, Vitamin C to significantly enhance iron absorption, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cell formation and nerve function, and Copper Sulphate and Manganese Sulphate as essential trace minerals that support red blood cell production and overall metabolic health. Each ingredient plays a specific and complementary role — working together to replenish iron stores, stimulate the production of healthy red blood cells, improve haemoglobin levels, and restore the energy and vitality lost to anaemia. Ferrous Gluconate — the iron form used in Sangobion — is a gentler form of iron than ferrous sulphate, causing significantly less stomach irritation and nausea, making Sangobion easier to tolerate for patients who have struggled with other iron preparations. Sangobion Syrup is suitable for adults, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers — always under appropriate medical supervision for confirmed anaemia.

What is Sangobion Syrup Used For?

Sangobion Syrup 120ml is indicated for the treatment and prevention of the following conditions:

• Iron Deficiency Anaemia — the most common use — treating low haemoglobin and depleted iron stores caused by insufficient iron intake, poor absorption, or increased demand (آئرن کی کمی سے خون کی کمی)
• Prevention of Anaemia During Pregnancy — pregnant women have dramatically increased iron and folic acid requirements — Sangobion provides both essential nutrients to support maternal health and healthy foetal development (حمل کے دوران خون کی کمی سے بچاؤ)
• Post-Partum Iron and Nutrient Replenishment — restoring iron and vitamin levels lost during childbirth and blood loss after delivery
• Anaemia Associated with Poor Diet or Malnutrition — iron and vitamin deficiency caused by inadequate dietary intake — common in children with restricted diets and adults with low vegetable and protein intake
• Megaloblastic Anaemia — anaemia caused by deficiency of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 — characterised by abnormally large, immature red blood cells that cannot function properly
• Anaemia in Growing Children and Adolescents — periods of rapid growth significantly increase iron and vitamin requirements that diet alone may not meet
• Anaemia in Breastfeeding Women — iron and nutrient losses during breastfeeding that need to be actively replenished
• Anaemia Associated with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding — women with heavy periods regularly lose significant amounts of iron each month — requiring ongoing supplementation
• Recovery from Blood Loss — restoring iron and haemoglobin levels after surgery, injury, or significant blood loss
• Anaemia of Chronic Disease — supportive nutritional supplementation alongside medical management of underlying chronic conditions causing secondary anaemia
• General Nutritional Deficiency — broad replenishment of iron, B vitamins, and trace minerals in patients with generally poor nutritional status

How Does Sangobion Syrup Work?

Sangobion Syrup combines six active ingredients that work through precise and complementary mechanisms to restore iron stores, stimulate red blood cell production, and correct nutritional deficiencies:

Ferrous Gluconate (Iron): Iron is the central and most critical component of haemoglobin — the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to every tissue in the body. When iron stores are depleted, the body cannot produce adequate haemoglobin — resulting in small, pale, poorly functioning red blood cells and the classic symptoms of anaemia including fatigue, pallor, breathlessness, and poor concentration. Ferrous Gluconate provides highly bioavailable iron in the ferrous (Fe²⁺) form — the form that is most readily absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Once absorbed, iron is transported to the bone marrow where it is incorporated into newly forming red blood cells — gradually restoring haemoglobin levels and red blood cell count to normal. Ferrous Gluconate is specifically chosen over ferrous sulphate because it has a gentler profile — causing significantly less nausea, stomach pain, and constipation — making it much better tolerated for the prolonged supplementation courses needed to fully replenish iron stores. Full correction of iron deficiency anaemia typically takes 2 to 3 months of regular supplementation even after haemoglobin returns to normal — because iron stores in the bone marrow and liver must also be rebuilt.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Vitamin C plays a critical and highly practical role in Sangobion — it dramatically enhances the absorption of iron from the gut. Dietary iron — particularly plant-based non-haem iron — is poorly absorbed in its oxidised ferric (Fe³⁺) form. Vitamin C reduces ferric iron to the more absorbable ferrous (Fe²⁺) form in the acidic environment of the stomach and upper intestine. It also forms a soluble complex with iron that remains absorbable even in less acidic conditions — preventing iron from binding to phytates, tannins, and other dietary factors that would otherwise block its absorption. The inclusion of Vitamin C in Sangobion means that significantly more of the iron provided is actually absorbed and used by the body compared to iron taken without Vitamin C. Vitamin C also supports immune function, collagen synthesis, and acts as an antioxidant — providing additional health benefits beyond iron absorption enhancement.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): Folic Acid is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division — processes that are most critical in rapidly dividing cells such as those in the bone marrow that produce red blood cells. Without adequate Folic Acid, red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow cannot divide and mature normally — resulting in the production of abnormally large, immature red blood cells called megaloblasts that cannot carry oxygen effectively. This condition is called megaloblastic anaemia. Folic Acid supplementation corrects this deficiency and restores normal red blood cell maturation. Folic Acid is particularly critical during pregnancy — it is essential for normal neural tube development in the foetus during the first weeks of pregnancy. Adequate folic acid intake before and during early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of serious birth defects including spina bifida and anencephaly.

Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Vitamin B12 works closely alongside Folic Acid in the production of healthy red blood cells. It is required for the conversion of folate into its active form that the body can use for DNA synthesis. Without Vitamin B12, even adequate Folic Acid cannot be properly utilised — leading to megaloblastic anaemia that appears identical to folate deficiency anaemia. Vitamin B12 is also essential for the maintenance of the myelin sheath — the protective coating around nerve fibres — and its deficiency causes progressive neurological damage including numbness, tingling, weakness, and in severe cases irreversible nerve damage. Sangobion provides Vitamin B12 alongside Folic Acid — ensuring both deficiencies are corrected simultaneously and that folate supplementation does not mask underlying B12 deficiency.

Copper Sulphate (Copper): Copper is an essential trace mineral that plays several important supporting roles in iron metabolism and red blood cell production. It is required for the activity of ceruloplasmin — a copper-containing enzyme that oxidises ferrous iron to ferric iron for transport in the bloodstream — and for ferroxidase activity that is critical for iron mobilisation from storage sites in the liver and bone marrow. Without adequate copper, iron cannot be properly incorporated into haemoglobin even when iron stores are sufficient. Copper also supports the activity of enzymes involved in red blood cell membrane integrity and antioxidant defence within red blood cells.

Manganese Sulphate (Manganese): Manganese is a trace mineral that acts as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in energy metabolism, bone formation, and antioxidant defence. In the context of haematopoiesis (red blood cell production), manganese supports the enzymatic processes in bone marrow cells that are involved in producing healthy red blood cells and maintaining cellular energy. It contributes to the overall metabolic support needed for efficient red blood cell synthesis and normal haemoglobin function.

Dosage and Administration

⚠️ Take exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Do not exceed the recommended dose — iron supplements can cause toxicity in overdose, particularly in children. Always keep the bottle out of reach of children. Take with or after food to reduce stomach side effects. Do not take with tea, coffee, milk, or calcium supplements — these significantly reduce iron absorption.

Important Instructions:

• Shake the bottle well before every use
• Use the measuring spoon or cup provided — never estimate with a household teaspoon
• Take after meals to significantly reduce nausea and stomach discomfort from iron
• Take with a glass of orange juice or water — the natural Vitamin C in orange juice further enhances iron absorption
• Do NOT take at the same time as tea (چائے), coffee, milk, dairy products, or calcium supplements — these substances bind iron in the gut and reduce absorption by up to 60%
• Do NOT take at the same time as antacids or proton pump inhibitors (e.g., Omeprazole, Pantoprazole) — reduced stomach acid significantly decreases iron absorption — take iron at least 2 hours before or after antacids
• Iron supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach — however if stomach upset is significant, taking with food is preferable to missing doses
• Continue taking for the full prescribed course — usually 3 to 6 months for treatment of iron deficiency anaemia — even after symptoms improve, as iron stores need to be fully replenished
• Do not stop early just because energy levels or symptoms have improved — haemoglobin returning to normal does not mean iron stores are fully restored

Active Ingredients

Please check the product label or ask your pharmacist for the exact quantity of each ingredient per 5ml or 10ml dose in the specific Sangobion Syrup pack dispensed to you.

Who Should NOT Use Sangobion Syrup?

Do not use this syrup if you:

• Are allergic to Ferrous Gluconate, any B vitamin, Vitamin C, copper, manganese, or any other listed ingredient
• Have iron overload conditions — including Haemochromatosis (a genetic condition causing excessive iron accumulation) or Haemosiderosis — iron supplements are strictly contraindicated (آئرن کی زیادتی کی بیماری)
• Have haemolytic anaemia — anaemia caused by destruction of red blood cells rather than iron deficiency — iron supplements do not help and may accumulate dangerously
• Have anaemia that is not caused by iron or vitamin deficiency — always confirm the cause of anaemia with blood tests before taking iron supplements — iron will not treat anaemia caused by kidney disease, chronic inflammation, bone marrow disorders, or other non-nutritional causes
• Have active peptic ulcer disease or active inflammatory bowel disease — iron can irritate inflamed gut mucosa — consult your doctor before use
• Have repeated blood transfusions — patients receiving frequent transfusions already receive iron from transfused red blood cells and may develop iron overload without supplementation
• Are taking Levodopa for Parkinson's disease — iron significantly reduces Levodopa absorption

Tell your doctor or pharmacist before use if you have:

• Any liver disease — iron is stored in the liver and liver disease affects iron metabolism
• Any kidney disease — affects overall metabolic management of iron and vitamins
• A history of stomach ulcers or gut inflammation — iron can worsen mucosal irritation
• Wilson's disease — a condition involving copper accumulation — Copper Sulphate supplementation is contraindicated
• Any known blood disorder — always confirm the type of anaemia before starting iron supplements
• If you are already taking other iron supplements or multivitamins — avoid duplicating iron intake
• If you are taking thyroid medicines (Levothyroxine) — iron reduces thyroid hormone absorption significantly

Side Effects

Like all iron supplements, Sangobion Syrup can cause side effects. Ferrous Gluconate is specifically chosen for its gentler stomach profile compared to other iron salts — but digestive side effects are still possible, particularly when starting treatment. Not everyone will experience them.

Common Side Effects (relatively frequent):

• Dark or black stools (کالا رنگ کا پاخانہ) — the most common and expected side effect of iron supplementation — completely harmless and a sign the iron is being processed by the gut — inform patients in advance to avoid unnecessary alarm
• Mild nausea or stomach discomfort — most common when taken on an empty stomach — significantly reduced by taking after meals (متلی)
• Constipation (قبض) — iron supplementation commonly slows gut movement — increase water and dietary fibre intake to manage this
• Mild abdominal cramping or bloating — usually temporary and improves within the first week of treatment
• Temporary teeth staining from liquid iron preparations — rinse mouth with water after each dose and use a straw where possible to minimise contact with teeth

Serious Side Effects (rare — seek medical help immediately):

• Iron toxicity or overdose — particularly dangerous in children who may accidentally drink from the bottle. Early signs of iron overdose include severe nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, and pallor — progressing to serious cardiovascular and liver damage within hours. This is a medical emergency — go to hospital immediately if overdose is suspected. Always keep iron supplements completely out of reach of children
• Severe allergic reaction — sudden widespread rash, swelling of face, lips, or throat, difficulty breathing — seek emergency help immediately
• Severe constipation or bowel impaction — if constipation becomes extreme or there is no bowel movement for several days — consult your doctor
• Worsening stomach pain — if abdominal pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by blood in the stool — stop and consult a doctor immediately
• Signs of iron overload with long-term use — joint pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, skin darkening, and liver problems — seek medical assessment if long-term supplementation is used without monitoring

⚠️ Iron supplement overdose is a medical emergency — particularly in young children. Always store this syrup in a locked medicine cabinet completely out of reach of children.

Drug Interactions

Golden Rule: Take Sangobion Syrup at least 2 hours away from most other medicines, dairy products, tea, and coffee to ensure maximum iron absorption and to prevent interactions.

Always inform your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines, supplements, and herbal preparations you are currently taking.

Storage Instructions

• Store below 25°C in a cool, dry place
• Keep away from direct sunlight and excessive heat
• Do not refrigerate or freeze the syrup
• Keep completely out of reach of children (بچوں کی پہنچ سے بالکل دور رکھیں) — iron supplement overdose in children is a serious medical emergency
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the bottle or outer box
• Shake well before every use
• Keep the bottle tightly closed after each use to prevent oxidation and contamination
• Do not use if the syrup appears significantly darker, has an unusual smell, or has changed in consistency
• Store in the original packaging to protect from light

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sangobion Syrup used for?

Sangobion Syrup is used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anaemia — low haemoglobin and depleted iron stores causing fatigue, pallor, breathlessness, and weakness. Its six-ingredient formula provides iron in a gentle, well-absorbed form alongside Vitamin C for enhanced absorption, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cell formation, and Copper and Manganese as trace minerals supporting haemoglobin production. It is particularly used during pregnancy, breastfeeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, and periods of poor nutrition.

Why does Sangobion use Ferrous Gluconate instead of Ferrous Sulphate?

Both are effective sources of iron but they differ significantly in tolerability. Ferrous Sulphate — the most commonly used iron salt — frequently causes nausea, stomach pain, and constipation that leads many patients to stop taking their iron supplement before completing the full course. Ferrous Gluconate contains iron in a form that is gentler on the stomach lining — causing significantly less gastric irritation and nausea while still providing highly bioavailable iron. This better tolerability profile is particularly important in pregnant women and children who may be especially sensitive to gastrointestinal side effects.

Why must I avoid tea and coffee when taking Sangobion Syrup?

Tea and coffee contain compounds called tannins and polyphenols that bind strongly to iron in the gut — forming insoluble iron complexes that cannot be absorbed through the intestinal wall. Drinking tea or coffee at the same time as iron supplements can reduce iron absorption by up to 60 to 80%. In Pakistan where tea is consumed very frequently throughout the day, this is one of the most common reasons iron treatment fails to raise haemoglobin levels despite regular supplementation. Always take Sangobion at least 2 hours before or after tea or coffee — and ideally take it with a glass of orange juice instead to benefit from the additional Vitamin C enhancement of absorption.

How long will it take for Sangobion to improve my anaemia?

Most patients notice an improvement in energy levels, reduction in fatigue, and improvement in pallor within 2 to 4 weeks of starting regular iron supplementation. Haemoglobin levels typically rise meaningfully within 4 to 8 weeks. However — and this is critically important — the full treatment course must continue for 3 to 6 months even after haemoglobin returns to normal. Iron stores in the bone marrow and liver — known as ferritin stores — take much longer to replenish than haemoglobin. Stopping too early leads to rapid relapse of anaemia because the body has no reserves to draw upon when demand increases.

Is Sangobion Syrup safe to take during pregnancy?

Yes — Sangobion Syrup is specifically suitable for use during pregnancy and is one of the most important times to take iron and folic acid supplementation. Iron and folic acid requirements increase dramatically during pregnancy to support foetal development, placental growth, and the significant increase in maternal blood volume. Folic Acid in Sangobion is particularly critical in early pregnancy for prevention of neural tube defects. Always inform your obstetrician or doctor about all supplements you are taking during pregnancy — they will confirm the appropriate dose and monitor your haemoglobin and iron levels throughout the pregnancy.

My stools have turned black since starting Sangobion — is this dangerous?

No — black or very dark stools are a completely normal, expected, and harmless side effect of iron supplementation. The iron in the gut reacts with sulphur compounds in the digestive tract to form iron sulphide — a black compound that colours the stool. This is not blood and is not a cause for concern. The important distinction is that iron-related black stools are typically uniform in colour, formed, and without pain. If you notice genuinely tarry, sticky, foul-smelling black stools — particularly with stomach pain — this can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding and must be reported to your doctor immediately.

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⚕️ Medical Disclaimer: This product description is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always confirm the cause of anaemia with blood tests before starting iron supplementation. Always consult a qualified doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or supplement — particularly during pregnancy.

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DRAP Registered | Over-the-Counter (OTC) | Shake well before use | Keep completely out of reach of children | Take 2 hours apart from tea, coffee, antacids, and most other medicines