Does anyone get Gentle Iron (Ferrous Bisglycinate) prescribed on the NHS?

[Chancery]

Hi, I only recently joined this forum, despite having had the problem for many years, and the first thing I learned was to try iron. I did this, with cheap (14mg?) iron tablets from a discount store and, lo and behold, it works! The only trouble is I have IBS with constipation. The iron is wreaking such havoc on it that even my normal prescribed laxatives aren't working. I tried stopping the iron but the RLS came right back. My question is can you have Iron Bisglycinate prescribed on the NHS via your doctor, or do they only do the standard anaemia iron supplements? I'm asking because the Gentle Iron is quite expensive! Anyone who has asked for it at their GPs, or even better who is being prescribed Gentle Iron by their docs, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

P.S. While I'm here, if anyone has any other recommendations for avoiding constipation or helping constipation while treating with iron, I'd love to hear them. Thanks again!

[Madlegs1]

Movicol would be standard treatment.

Magnesium oxide is a cheap laxative- but I don't know if it interferes with iron absorption . Worth Googling.?

Cheers.

[Chancery in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks, Madlegs (great name!), but I'm already on Movicol. It's the best laxative I've found for my IBS.

[Hidden]

Why would iron help? I thought dopamine was our problem, like Parkinson's?

[Terricotta in reply to Hidden]

There is information 'out there' that suggests that iron does help and having taken iron recently to increase my levels, my RLS has stopped. It's worth getting iron levels checked out and if low to supplement. Dopamine requires plenty of oxygen and therefore iron, as do other neurotransmitters. RLS is a muscle issue, as is Parkinson's. Exercise such as stretching and walking, particularly walking in the fresh air, helps reduce symptoms of RLS.

Best regards

[Hidden in reply to Terricotta]

Strange but maybe I'll ask my doctor about it. It has to be the expensive kind?

[Terricotta in reply to Hidden]

It doesn't have to be expensive. Your doctor will know what to prescribe. Also, ensure your intake of vitamin C is good as well. Otherwise, no point in taking iron.

[DicCarlson]

Info on the iron supplementation - I use Albion Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate less than $5 US. hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolo...

[Hidden in reply to DicCarlson]

$5 aint bad. Does it really stop the RLS?

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

Only for some people.

The iron you need to get checked is" serum ferritin"- blood iron is different.

It's all about blood brain barrier and dopamine transportation .

Anything Albion do is good. Ferrous Bis Glycinate is supposed to be the best.

There is absolutely no guarentee that an ordinary general practice doctor will be up to speed on any of this.

Cheers.

[Hidden]

Dear Chancery, did you try the more expensive iron? Was it worth it?

[Chancery in reply to Hidden]

Hi Oolong, no, not as yet. I'm doggedly working my way through my cheap bottle first! With constipation/IBS like mine (nothing helps it) I can't work up the enthusiasm to pony up for the expensive one on top of this. However, when my cheapie one runs out I am going to try the expensive one. I'll let you know if it makes any difference, although I doubt if it will!

[mantel in reply to Chancery]

I think the more expensive one is supposed to be far less likely to give you constipation. It has not given me any problems. The last time I was given regular iron it caused bad constipation

[Chancery in reply to mantel]

Thanks, Mantel. I intend to try it as soon as my bargain basement one runs out,

[Mel6666 in reply to Chancery]

I have no problem with California gold 36mg ,,how long does it take the iron to restore your ferritin levels,? Been on them 2 weeks with vit c 250Mg.

[Hidden in reply to Mel6666]

Hi Mel, I have a bit of advice, try taking the iron about an hour before bed on an empty stomach.

[Mel6666 in reply to Hidden]

What's the advantage of taking ironan hour before bed as to taking at 7 am?

[Hidden in reply to Mel6666]

some people get immediate relief from RLS, including myself, by taking the iron at night. Relief lasts for one night. Maybe check out some of my previous posts. There’s this too: journals.physiology.org/doi...

[Chancery in reply to Mel6666]

Hi Mel, can't help I'm afraid. This is an old post and since writing it I've been diagnosed with haemochromatosis so I'm not allowed to take iron at all now!

[Hidden in reply to Chancery]

Omg Chancery, I never knew you were another member that got immediate relief by taking iron. What are you doing now for your RLS?

[Chancery in reply to Hidden]

Nothing! I just try to avoid all the usual suspects: caffeine, too much sugar and sucralose (artificial sweeteners in general). That works-ish. I still get it, particularly if I exercise more or less than normal (it's pretty exercise sensitive), but as long as I don't binge on chocolate I'm usually not too bad.

[Hidden in reply to Chancery]

Nice!

[Mel6666]

That's an interesting article I might try 16mg morning and 16mg at bedtime with vit c.i hope the vit c is not stimulating at bedtime,thanks

[Hidden in reply to Mel6666]

Depending on how low, or high, your ferritin is you may be making a mistake by taking iron twice a day. If you’re anemic then you could probably take iron three times a day and each tablet will be absorbed to the max. If you’re in the normal range for ferritin then it’s not a great idea to take iron twice a day. Our bodies release a hormone called hepcidin when iron is consumed. Hepcidin is our bodies’ iron gatekeeper. It blocks ingress of iron from our GI tract as well as any release from our stored iron. The rule is to put 24 hours between doses, at minimum. I’ll tell you what, try taking the full amount of iron for just ONE evening. The best test is to take it when you feel the RLS starting up. If the RLS isn’t gone in one hour, or greatly diminished, then you can take the iron however you decide is best for you. Deal?

Btw, I can practically guarantee that zinc carnosine will help to heal your gut. I like a brand called Nature’s Lining. Pretty expensive, but worth it to me. Zinc is the great healer, plus it’s anti-microbial. Combine that with L Carnosine, which is known to heal tissue as well, and you have a power house for healing. It’s by prescription in Japan. Omeprazole gives me wicked migraines. Took me two years to realize it.

[Mel6666 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that reply,I will do that,also are all PPis the same I mean would they all have the same side effects etc?

[Hidden in reply to Mel6666]

That I’m not sure of. My GI doc prescribed another PPI after I told him about the headaches but I never filled it.