Do iron pills cause nausea. How can you prevent side effects from iron supplements. What are the best ways to take iron pills without feeling sick. When should you take iron supplements for maximum absorption. Which foods interfere with iron absorption.

Understanding the Importance of Iron in Your Body

Iron is a crucial nutrient that plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions. Its primary purpose is to help form hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without adequate iron, your body can’t produce enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells, leading to a condition called iron deficiency anemia.

Why is iron so essential for our health? Here are some key reasons:

• Oxygen transport: Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all parts of the body.
• Energy production: Iron is involved in the process of converting food into energy.
• Immune system support: Adequate iron levels are crucial for a strong immune system.
• Cognitive function: Iron is essential for proper brain function and development.
• Muscle metabolism: Iron helps maintain healthy muscle metabolism and function.

Common Sources of Dietary Iron

Before resorting to supplements, it’s important to understand where you can find iron in your diet. Iron comes in two forms: heme iron from animal sources and non-heme iron from plant sources.

Heme Iron Sources

Heme iron is more easily absorbed by the body and is found in animal products such as:

• Red meat (beef, lamb, pork)
• Poultry (chicken, turkey)
• Fish and seafood
• Organ meats (liver, kidney)

Non-Heme Iron Sources

Non-heme iron is found in plant-based foods and is less readily absorbed. Sources include:

• Leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, collard greens)
• Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas)
• Whole grains
• Nuts and seeds
• Fortified cereals and breads

Why Might You Need Iron Supplements?

Despite a balanced diet, some individuals may require iron supplements due to various factors:

• Pregnancy: Pregnant women often need additional iron to support fetal development.
• Menstruation: Women with heavy menstrual periods may lose significant amounts of iron.
• Vegetarian or vegan diets: These diets may lack sufficient heme iron sources.
• Certain medical conditions: Conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease can interfere with iron absorption.
• Blood loss: Significant blood loss from surgery or injury may deplete iron stores.

Understanding Iron Supplement Side Effects

While iron supplements can be beneficial, they often come with unwanted side effects. The most common complaints include:

• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Black or dark stools

These side effects are typically due to the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract by iron. However, there are several strategies you can employ to minimize these issues.

Strategies to Minimize Nausea from Iron Supplements

Are you experiencing nausea from iron pills? Here are some effective strategies to help reduce this common side effect:

1. Take iron with food: While iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, taking it with a small amount of food can help reduce nausea.
2. Start with a lower dose: Begin with a smaller dose and gradually increase it as your body adjusts.
3. Choose a different form of iron: Some people find certain forms of iron (like ferrous gluconate) easier to tolerate than others.
4. Take iron at bedtime: Taking your supplement before bed may help you sleep through any potential nausea.
5. Use a slow-release formula: These formulations release iron more slowly, potentially reducing gastrointestinal side effects.

Maximizing Iron Absorption from Supplements

To get the most benefit from your iron supplement, consider these tips for optimal absorption:

• Take iron on an empty stomach: If you can tolerate it, taking iron 1-2 hours before or after meals can improve absorption.
• Pair with vitamin C: Vitamin C enhances iron absorption. Consider taking your supplement with a glass of orange juice or a vitamin C tablet.
• Avoid certain foods and drinks: Calcium, tannins (in tea and coffee), and phytates (in whole grains and legumes) can interfere with iron absorption. Avoid these for at least two hours before and after taking your supplement.
• Don’t take with other medications: Some medications can interact with iron. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential interactions.

Alternative Iron Supplementation Methods

If traditional oral iron supplements are causing persistent side effects, consider these alternatives:

• Liquid iron: Some people find liquid iron formulations easier to tolerate.
• Iron infusions: In severe cases, intravenous iron infusions may be recommended by a healthcare provider.
• Transdermal iron patches: These are still in development but show promise for reducing gastrointestinal side effects.
• Iron-fortified foods: Increasing your intake of iron-fortified foods may help boost your iron levels without the need for supplements.

When to Seek Medical Advice

While mild side effects from iron supplements are common, certain symptoms warrant medical attention. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:

• Severe or persistent nausea and vomiting
• Intense abdominal pain
• Signs of an allergic reaction (rash, difficulty breathing, swelling)
• Bloody or tar-like stools
• No improvement in symptoms of iron deficiency after several weeks of supplementation

Remember, iron supplementation should always be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional. They can help determine the right dosage for you and monitor your progress through blood tests.

Lifestyle Changes to Support Iron Absorption

In addition to proper supplementation, certain lifestyle changes can enhance your body’s ability to absorb and utilize iron:

Dietary Modifications

Incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet can complement your supplementation efforts:

• Include lean meats, poultry, and fish in your meals
• Consume iron-fortified cereals and breads
• Add leafy greens like spinach and kale to your diet
• Incorporate legumes such as lentils and beans into your meals
• Snack on dried fruits and nuts, which are good sources of iron

Cooking Techniques

The way you prepare your food can affect its iron content:

• Cook in cast iron pots and pans, which can leach iron into your food
• Avoid overcooking vegetables, as this can decrease their iron content
• Add a source of vitamin C to iron-rich meals to enhance absorption

Timing Your Meals

Strategic meal timing can optimize iron absorption:

• Consume iron-rich foods or supplements separate from calcium-rich foods
• Avoid drinking tea or coffee with meals, as these can inhibit iron absorption
• Have vitamin C-rich foods or drinks with your iron sources

Understanding Different Types of Iron Supplements

Not all iron supplements are created equal. Understanding the different types can help you choose the most suitable option:

Ferrous Iron

This is the most commonly prescribed form of iron supplement. It includes:

• Ferrous sulfate
• Ferrous gluconate
• Ferrous fumarate

Ferrous iron is generally well-absorbed but may cause more gastrointestinal side effects.

Ferric Iron

This form of iron is less well-absorbed than ferrous iron but may cause fewer side effects. Examples include:

• Ferric citrate
• Ferric sulfate

Carbonyl Iron

This is a highly purified form of iron that may be less likely to cause iron toxicity if accidentally ingested in large amounts.

Heme Iron Polypeptide

This type of iron supplement is derived from animal sources and may be better absorbed with fewer side effects.

The Role of Vitamin C in Iron Absorption

Vitamin C plays a crucial role in enhancing iron absorption, particularly non-heme iron. Here’s how you can leverage this relationship:

• Take your iron supplement with a glass of orange juice
• Consume vitamin C-rich foods like bell peppers, strawberries, or broccoli with iron-rich meals
• Consider taking a vitamin C supplement alongside your iron supplement

Vitamin C helps convert iron into a more easily absorbed form and can significantly increase the amount of iron your body absorbs from both food and supplements.

Monitoring Your Iron Levels

Regular monitoring of your iron levels is essential when taking supplements. This typically involves blood tests to check:

• Hemoglobin levels
• Ferritin (a measure of iron stores)
• Transferrin saturation

Your healthcare provider will use these tests to adjust your supplementation as needed and ensure you’re not taking too much iron, which can be harmful.

Potential Risks of Excessive Iron Intake

While iron is essential, too much can be dangerous. Excess iron can accumulate in organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas, potentially leading to:

• Organ damage
• Increased risk of certain cancers
• Higher risk of heart disease

This is why it’s crucial to only take iron supplements under medical supervision and to keep them out of reach of children, as iron overdose can be fatal in young children.

Iron Supplementation in Special Populations

Certain groups may have unique considerations when it comes to iron supplementation:

Pregnant Women

Pregnancy increases iron needs significantly. Most prenatal vitamins include iron, but some women may need additional supplementation.

Athletes

Intense physical activity can increase iron needs, especially in endurance athletes. However, supplementation should only be done if a deficiency is confirmed.

Vegetarians and Vegans

These individuals may need to pay extra attention to their iron intake and may benefit from supplements, especially if they’re not consuming fortified foods.

Elderly Individuals

Older adults may have difficulty absorbing iron from food sources and might require supplementation.

Natural Alternatives to Iron Supplements

For those who prefer to avoid supplements or are looking for additional ways to boost their iron intake, consider these natural alternatives:

• Blackstrap molasses: A tablespoon contains about 3.5 mg of iron
• Spirulina: This blue-green algae is rich in iron and other nutrients
• Herbs like thyme, parsley, and dandelion greens: These are surprisingly good sources of iron
• Cooking in cast iron cookware: This can increase the iron content of foods, especially acidic foods

Remember, while these natural sources can contribute to your iron intake, they may not be sufficient to correct a significant deficiency. Always consult with a healthcare provider before relying solely on natural sources to treat iron deficiency.

The Future of Iron Supplementation

Research into iron supplementation continues, with scientists exploring new ways to deliver iron more effectively and with fewer side effects. Some promising areas of research include:

• Nanoparticle iron formulations that may improve absorption and reduce side effects
• Gene therapy to enhance iron absorption in individuals with hereditary iron absorption disorders
• Development of iron-fortified foods that are more palatable and effective
• Personalized supplementation based on genetic factors affecting iron metabolism

As our understanding of iron metabolism and supplementation grows, we can expect to see more targeted and efficient ways to address iron deficiency in the future.

Conclusion: Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Iron Supplementation

Iron supplementation can be a crucial tool in preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia. However, it’s important to approach it with care and under medical supervision. By understanding the potential side effects, employing strategies to minimize them, and optimizing absorption, you can maximize the benefits of iron supplementation while minimizing discomfort.

Remember, the goal is to achieve and maintain healthy iron levels, not to take as much iron as possible. Regular monitoring, a balanced diet, and lifestyle modifications can all contribute to maintaining optimal iron status. If you’re concerned about your iron levels or experiencing side effects from supplements, don’t hesitate to consult with your healthcare provider. They can help you navigate the complexities of iron supplementation and ensure you’re taking the right approach for your individual needs.

Taking iron supplements: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007478.htm

To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.

Eating iron rich foods is a key part of treating anemia caused by low iron levels. You may also need to take iron supplements as well to rebuild iron stores in your body.

ABOUT IRON SUPPLEMENTS

Iron supplements may be taken as capsules, tablets, chewable tablets, and liquids. The most common tablet size is 325 mg (ferrous sulfate). Other common chemical forms are ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate.

Have your health care provider tell you how many pills you should take each day and when you should take them. Taking more iron than your body needs can cause serious medical problems.

Blood counts return to normal after 2 months of iron therapy for most people. You should continue taking supplements for another 6 to 12 months to build up the body’s iron stores in the bone marrow.

TIPS FOR TAKING IRON

Iron is absorbed the best on an empty stomach. Yet, iron supplements can cause stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea in some people. You may need to take iron with a small amount of food to avoid this problem.

Milk, calcium and antacids should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements. You should wait at least 2 hours after having these foods before taking your iron supplements.

Foods that you should not eat at the same time as you take your iron include:

• High fiber foods, such as whole grains, raw vegetables, and bran
• Foods or drinks with caffeine

Some doctors suggest taking a vitamin C supplement or drinking orange juice with your iron pill. This can help the iron absorb into your body. Drinking 8 ounces of fluid with an iron pill is also OK.

Tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking.

• Iron tablets may cause other drugs you are taking to not work as well. Some of these include tetracycline, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, and drugs used for Parkinson’s disease and seizures.
• Medicines that reduce stomach acid will impair iron absorption and may cause iron deficiency. Your provider may suggest changing these.
• Wait at least 2 hours between doses of these drugs and iron supplements.

SIDE EFFECTS

Constipation and diarrhea are very common. If constipation becomes a problem, take a stool softener such as docusate sodium (Colace).

Nausea and vomiting may occur with higher doses, but they can usually be controlled by taking the iron in smaller amounts. Ask your provider about switching to another form of iron rather than just stopping.

Black stools are normal when taking iron tablets. Talk to your provider right away if:

• The stools are tarry looking as well as black
• If they have red streaks
• Cramps, sharp pains, or soreness in the stomach occur

Liquid forms of iron may stain your teeth.

• Try mixing the iron with water or other liquids (such as fruit juice or tomato juice) and drinking the medicine with a straw.
• Iron stains can be removed by brushing your teeth with baking soda or peroxide.

Keep tablets should in a cool place. (Bathroom medicine cabinets may be too warm and humid, which may cause the pills to fall apart.)

Keep iron supplements out of the reach of children. If your child swallows an iron pill, contact a poison control center right away.

Brittenham GM. Disorders of iron homeostasis: iron deficiency and overload. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ Jr, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 36.

Camaschella C. Microcytic and hypochromic anemias. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier ; 2020:chap 150.

Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A. D.A.M. Editorial team.

How to Take Iron Pills Without Getting Sick

Iron is one of your body’s most vital nutrients.

We get iron from our food so a healthy balanced diet should ensure we have sufficient iron in our diets. In some cases, like during pregnancy or due to a restricted diet, it may be necessary to take an iron supplement to keep up our iron levels.

However, some people find it difficult to take iron supplements without feeling sick, often experiencing stomach irritation and nausea.

But how can you make sure that supplementing with iron doesn’t make you feel sick?

This is the question we’re going to be answering in this article, but first of all, there’s a few things we need to cover:

• Why you need iron
• Where you will find iron in your diet
• How you can maximize iron absorption
• How you can ensure that taking iron pills, doesn’t make you feel sick

Active Iron has a scientifically developed formula which ensures it works in perfect harmony with your body, while also being kind on your stomach and highly effective. Click this link to visit our store and purchase Active Iron.

Let’s get right into it.

Why Do You Need Iron?

Healthy iron levels support your overall health. Iron contributes to normal cognitive function and energy yielding metabolism, so when your body has enough iron, you feel more energized and alert.

Maintaining healthy iron levels helps reduce tiredness and fatigue in the body and can help improve immune system function.

Your body also needs iron to produce hemoglobin – a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Naturally, this means the people who are most likely to benefit from iron supplements are:

• Pregnant women
• Women during their period
• People over the age of 65
• Active Exercisers
• Vegetarians

How Can You Get More Iron In Your Diet?

There are two types of iron:

• Heme iron, which is most commonly found in meat, fish and poultry.
• Non-heme iron, which is found in plant-based foods such as legumes, nuts and vegetables.

Your body absorbs heme iron way more easily than non-heme iron.

If you eat more meat, you will likely boost your iron levels higher than if you mostly consume non-heme iron from other sources.

However, eating a lot of meat isn’t the only option for increasing your iron intake – taking an iron supplement can be a helpful addition to a well-balanced diet.

Here is a list of iron-rich foods you can start implementing in your diet right now:

• Beef
• Eggs
• Pork
• Chicken
• Shrimp
• Tuna
• White bread
• Tofu
• Spinach
• Kale

How Is Iron Absorbed In The Body?

When iron enters the stomach, it’s exposed to stomach acid and changed into a Fe+3 form. This will need to be converted back into Fe+2 by the body so that it can be absorbed.

The majority of iron is absorbed in the small intestine, specifically the duodenum. As iron enters the mucosal sites of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) this is where most of its absorption takes place.

If you are supplementing with iron, it is best to find a supplement that is designed to release at the body’s natural site of absorption than one that breaks down completely in the stomach.

That’s why if you want to take iron without getting sick, you have to do your best to ease the iron absorption process.

Here are a few tips that will help you increase your iron absorption and lessen the chances of getting sick after taking an iron supplement:

• If you don’t experience any stomach problems, take iron in the morning on an empty stomach.
• If you have a sensitive stomach, take iron along with a little food, so it doesn’t make you nauseous.
• When you take iron with food, do NOT eat milk, calcium or antacids, and don’t drink tea or coffee because they will lower your ability to absorb iron.
• Take iron with a Vitamin C supplement or with orange juice to increase the absorption.

Is That The Only Way To Take Iron Without Getting Sick?

You can follow all of the above tips, OR if you are looking for an easier option, you can just start taking Active Iron – the iron supplement that revolutionizes iron absorption and is gentle on your stomach. Providing 2X better iron absorption than other iron supplements*, and decreasing the likelihood of side effects by 6X**,  Active Iron is recommended by health professionals and loved by consumers.

Will Active Iron Tablets Make You Feel Sick?

No they should not, Active Iron has a ground-breaking formula that is kind on your gut. Our iron pills are specifically designed to help reduce side effects e.g. feel sick, nauseated, constipated.

Active Iron is a very tolerable and easy-to-absorb iron supplement.

Active Iron will increase the amount of iron you absorb and reduces the chances of making you feel sick because it works in tune with your body by targeting your natural site of absorption in the small intestine.

Active Iron reduces unwanted side effects that are typically associated with taking iron pills, such as nausea, cramping, constipation, flatulence, and stomach irritation.

Conclusion: If You Want To Optimise Your Chance Of Not Feeling Sick Due To Iron Pills, Choose Active Iron

Maintaining healthy iron levels will go a long way to promoting a better lifestyle and a healthier body.

If you regularly feel tired or fatigued, try taking an iron supplement to see if it boosts your energy levels.*

When you need an iron supplement that won’t make you feel sick, the best option is Active Iron. By reducing gut irritation from iron, Active Iron limits the potential side effects of iron including nausea.

It has a scientifically proven formula that works in tune with your body to improve your absorption and increase your iron levels and reduces the chances of making you feel sick.

Making Active Iron a part of your daily routine is a guaranteed way to reap all the benefits of an increased iron intake.

Iron supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

*These symptoms maybe signs of other conditions, you should contact a health care profession if they persist

*Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematological, 138: 223-232
**Ledwidge et al. Data on file.

Taking iron supplements once, twice or thrice a week to prevent anemia and its consequences in menstruating women

What is the problem?

In the world, approximately one in three non-pregnant women of reproductive age is anemic, i.e. has fewer red blood cells or a lower concentration of hemoglobin (the red substance that binds to oxygen and carries it around the body) in each red blood cell than normal. Despite the existence of a number of reasons for the development of anemia, it is very often due to long-term iron deficiency. The standard practice for preventing or treating anemia in women is to give iron supplements daily (sometimes in combination with folic acid and other vitamins and minerals) for three months. However, this regimen is often associated with the development of side effects such as nausea or constipation. Intermittent administration (i.e., dosing once, twice, or three times per week on non-consecutive days) has been suggested as an effective and safe alternative to daily dosing.

Why is this important?

Women with anemia may have lower physical performance and a higher susceptibility to infectious diseases. The majority of women in the world are anemic at the time of pregnancy, putting them at increased risk of having low birth weight babies and other birth complications.

According to some scientists, taking iron supplements several times a week instead of daily can improve the well-being of women with anemia and increase their hemoglobin levels without causing many side effects. With fewer side effects, women are more likely to take iron supplements more regularly and for longer.

What evidence did we find?

We reviewed the evidence in February 2018. The review included 25 randomized controlled trials (a type of experimental study in which participants are randomly assigned to one or more treatment groups) involving 10,996 women. The review included studies that compared intermittent iron supplementation with no intervention, placebo (dummy pills), or daily intake of the same iron supplements. Most of the research was conducted in academic settings and funded primarily by international organizations, universities, and ministries of health at the national level. Approximately one-third of the included studies did not provide sources of funding.

Studies have shown that women who took intermittent iron supplements (alone or in combination with folic acid or other micronutrients) were less likely to develop anemia compared with women who did not take iron supplements or took a placebo. They also had higher concentrations of hemoglobin and ferritin (an iron-carrying protein). In addition, the intermittent regimen of iron supplementation reduced the risk of developing iron deficiency. These findings suggest that intermittent iron supplementation was comparable to daily iron supplementation in reducing anemia and increasing hemoglobin concentrations, and was associated with fewer side effects. This mode of administration did not affect the increase in ferritin concentrations.

We found little evidence of the effect of intermittent iron supplementation versus placebo or daily iron supplementation on iron deficiency anemia, all-cause morbidity, disease outcomes, treatment adherence, cost-effectiveness, and performance.

What does this mean?

Intermittent iron supplementation in menstruating women may be an effective intervention to reduce the risk of anemia and increase hemoglobin concentrations when compared with no intervention, placebo, or daily supplementation of the same supplement. Intermittent dosing may be associated with fewer side effects compared to daily dosing. The results of the intervention were effective regardless of whether the drugs were taken once or twice a week, for less than or more than three months, whether they contained less or more than 60 mg of elemental iron per week, and whether the intervention was carried out in populations with varying degrees of anemia at baseline. level (baseline for comparisons). The evidence base was generally of low quality.

If you found this evidence helpful, please consider donating to Cochrane. We are a charity that produces accessible evidence to help people make health and care decisions.

Donate

Translation notes:

Translation: Vinichenko Yulia Viktorovna. Editing: Yudina Ekaterina Viktorovna. Project coordination for translation into Russian: Cochrane Russia – Cochrane Russia on the basis of Kazan Federal University. For questions related to this translation, please contact us at: cochrane. [email protected]; [email protected]

Ferinject – a new word in the treatment of iron deficiency conditions

Iron preparations are the basic therapy for latent iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), regardless of its cause and severity. Doctors pay great attention to the elimination of risk factors and disorders of internal organs, however, without saturation of the body with iron, these measures will not be effective.

To replenish the reserves of the microelement in IDA, 3 variants of preparations are used :

● Tablets for oral use.

● Solutions for intramuscular injections.

● Solutions for intravenous injections.

Each of the methods of treatment has advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss today. We will also tell you about an innovative drug for the treatment of IDA, which is devoid of most of the disadvantages and has every chance of becoming the “gold standard” of injectable therapy for iron deficiency.

Iron tablets

Oral iron preparations are the first line of treatment for mild to moderate IDA. This is the best treatment option for people who do not have problems swallowing pills, are responsible for treatment and do not forget to take their medicine on time. Tableted iron avoids painful injections, which is why it is often prescribed to patients.

However, tablets have a number of disadvantages :

● their absorption depends on the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract, so the effect of treatment may be much lower than expected;

● give a slow saturation of the body with iron and are not suitable for people with severe symptoms of iron deficiency – with optimal absorption of drugs, an increase in hemoglobin by 10 g / l takes about 1 month;

● give a persistent gray tint to tooth enamel;

● stain feces black;

● often cause constipation, nausea and vomiting;

● can cause exacerbations of digestive diseases (stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis).

The above symptoms cause poor adherence of patients to therapy, due to which the treatment of anemia is ineffective. Therefore, physicians are using injection therapy options that have become a kind of next step in the evolution of IDA therapy.

Injectable iron preparations

This includes drugs for intramuscular and intravenous iron injections. Parenteral administration of drugs is indicated in such cases :

● poor tolerance of iron tablets;

● severe forms of IDA;

● the need for rapid saturation of the body with iron;

● Violation of iron absorption due to inflammatory and atrophic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

● presence of gastric ulcer and some other ulcerative-erosive diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

● inability to swallow a tablet;

● personal choice of the patient.

For injections, complexes with iron are used, which are divided into 4 groups according to their physicochemical properties. The first 2 types are highly stable and are used for intravenous injections, while complexes 3 and 4 are not stable enough and are suitable for intramuscular injections. Intravenous administration is used much more often than intramuscular, due to the rapid and stable therapeutic effect, the ability to use more modern drugs.

Advantages of intramuscular iron preparations over tableted :

● devoid of negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract and do not depend on the state of absorption in the intestine;

● May be used in patients unable to swallow a tablet.

Disadvantages of preparations for intramuscular administration :

● reactions at the injection site – pain, redness, formation of sterile abscesses, necrosis of the skin and soft tissues;

● The rate of saturation does not have significant advantages over taking drugs by mouth, which determines the long duration of the injection course of 10-15-30 injections performed daily, or with a weekend break, or every other day.

Thus, tablet and injectable forms do not always fully meet the interests of the patient and the attending physician, which makes it possible for the widespread use of intravenous IDA therapy.

Iron preparations for intravenous use are devoid of all the disadvantages of tablet forms and solutions for intramuscular injection. The effectiveness of therapy does not depend on intestinal absorption, the presence of gastrointestinal diseases, does not cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract, there are no infiltrates and abscesses at the injection site, and the iron saturation rate is on average 3 times higher than that of tablets and intramuscular agents. Thus, an increase in hemoglobin by 10 g/l on average is achieved after 5 droppers of traditional solutions of iron hydroxide, performed at intervals of 1 day.

However, intravenous forms of drugs are not without disadvantages, which include :

● anaphylactoid reactions – shortness of breath, angioedema, urticaria, collapse;

● systemic side effects – heart rhythm disturbances, muscle and joint pain, urine discoloration.

Nevertheless, the benefits of iron infusions are much higher and more important than possible adverse reactions, so such drugs are actively used in therapeutic practice. In this regard, the development of new, less toxic and more effective medicines is an important task.

What is the difference between Ferinject

Ferinject is an intravenous drug that contains a molecule called iron carboxymaltose. In terms of chemical structure, such a substance is as close as possible to serum ferritin, a natural molecule responsible for storing iron reserves in the body.

4 main advantages of Ferinject compared to previous generation injectables :

1. Extremely rarely causes allergic reactions, unlike iron preparations containing dextran.

2. Allows you to administer a dose of up to 1000 mg in 15 minutes – this treatment regimen is the most comfortable for the patient.

3. Quickly replenishes iron stores in the body – an increase of 10 g / l is achieved after the first infusion, therefore it is suitable for severe forms of anemia.