Can an oral iron supplement resolve my iron deficiency?
The short answer? You can. Founder of Mainline Wellness, Dr. Adam Davidson, does see patients resolve their iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia with oral iron supplements. Oral iron supplements are considered the first line of therapy for patients struggling to maintain iron levels in the optimal range. As an Emergency Room Physician, Dr. Davidson prescribes iron supplements to patients when appropriate. Here, we outline the three most common forms of iron supplements:
Ferrous Salts (Palafer): least expensive, acceptable for vegan patients, higher incidence of side effects.
Iron Poysacharide (Feramax): more expensive, acceptable for vegan patients, possible fewer side effects than Ferrous salts.
Heme Iron (Proferin): most expensive, not suitable for vegans, likely has the fewest side effects.
Tips for increasing effectiveness of oral supplements: Take with orange juice or vitamin C, avoid taking with dairy or caffeine, take supplements once a day and only every second day and, if one type of supplement causes side effects, try another.
Oral supplements should typically be taken for at least 3 months before checking on results.
All oral supplements can be associated with GI side effects. Side effects include constipation, bloating, cramps, and nausea which can be intolerable for some patients especially for patients with underlying GI illness or who are pregnant. Patients can be very slow to respond, and some may not respond at all to oral iron treatment. Oral therapy is not ideal if the patient requires immediate resolution.
Why IV iron?
IV iron is the fastest way to treat iron, with results in 3 – 4 days and full effects felt in several weeks. It is also the most reliable way to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. It is very safe but can be associated with short-lived but unpleasant side effects. Here we outline the two most common forms of IV iron:
Iron Sucrose: older type of iron usually requires multiple infusions to get full dose.
Monoferric: newer iron, allows for full dose in single infusion.