Drug & supplement interaction

Arum + Ferrous Sulfate

Ferrous Sulfate brand name: Feosol.

Minor Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated February 2024
The bottom line Minor

Arum has a minor interaction with Ferrous Sulfate. Arum contains oxalate, which can bind to multivalent metal ions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as iron, and reduce their absorption.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityMinor
LikelihoodLikely
EvidenceC
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Arum and Ferrous Sulfate

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Minor

Iron

Why this applies to Ferrous Sulfate

Ferrous Sulfate falls under Iron — the group Arum interacts with.

Arum contains oxalate, which can bind to multivalent metal ions in the gastrointestinal tract, such as iron, and reduce their absorption.
Severity Minor Likelihood Likely Evidence C

Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version: Arum root contains oxalates, those sharp natural compounds that can grab onto minerals in your stomach. When oxalate latches onto the iron in your Ferrous Sulfate, less of that iron actually gets absorbed into your body. So the worry isn't a dangerous reaction, it's that your iron supplement may not work as well, which matters if you're taking it to fix or prevent anemia (think ongoing tiredness, low energy, or pale skin).

The good news is this is rated as a minor interaction with limited evidence. Honestly, the bigger concern is that raw Arum is toxic and irritating, so we don't recommend using it at all. If you do take both, please check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

From our Q&A

Questions About Arum or Ferrous Sulfate

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Arum or Ferrous Sulfate, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Ferrous Sulfate

This page covers Arum only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Ferrous Sulfate page lists 2 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Liver Extract (minor).

By severity: 2 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Ferrous Sulfate page

“Ferrous sulfate (Feosol) is a workhorse iron pill for low iron, and its supplement list is short and mild. Just two ingredients are on file, both rated minor, so serious trouble is unlikely for most people, though your prescriber should still know what you take.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Ferrous Sulfate interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Arum and Ferrous Sulfate Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Arum
Steady interest

#828 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Ferrous Sulfate
Top 25%

#534 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Arum

What is Arum?

Arum
  • Coughs and chest congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Promoting sweating (diaphoretic)
  • Skin and wart remedies (topical folk use)
  • Digestive complaints

Arum is a traditional European plant whose root has been used in folk medicine, but there is essentially no reliable human research to support any health benefit. The raw plant is toxic and irritating because of calcium oxalate crystals, so it should not be eaten or used casually. We do not recommend using Arum as a supplement, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Read the full Arum monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Iron Supplements

What Is Iron Supplements Used For?

Brand name: Feosol

  • Iron (ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate) is used to treat or prevent anemia (a lower than normal number of red blood cells) when the amount of iron taken in from the diet is not enough. Iron is a mineral that is available as a dietary supplement. It works by helping the body to produce red blood cells.

See full Iron Supplements drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Arum

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Arum — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Arum against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Arum list.

See the full Arum interactions page
See every supplement checked against Ferrous Sulfate, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Arum monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Ferrous Sulfate supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Ferrous Sulfate, ranked by severity Iron Supplements drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Arum and Ferrous Sulfate Together: Common Questions

Can you take Arum with Ferrous Sulfate?
There is only a minor interaction, which is usually not serious. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Arum and Ferrous Sulfate interaction?
We rate it Minor. This interaction is generally not clinically significant, but it remains worth noting and discussing with your pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Ferrous Sulfate and Arum?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.