Where to get an iron infusion?

[Graham3196]

Some people are having trouble finding where to go for an iron infusion at a reasonable price.

If your anemic its no problem and your GP should arrange it for you with no questions.

If your not anemic it seems you have to go to a private clinic or hospital and pay for it.

If your not anemic and you have had an infusion please tell us where and how much it cost.

Doctor Buchfuhrer says there are only two iron formulations that help RLS patients. These are INFeD and Injectafer and are about GBP300 so the cost variation is in what they charge for the process.

[restlessstoz]

Hi Graham, I was very lucky to get an iron infusion at our local hospital in Tasmania. I was referred to a hematologist and went armed with all my print outs of RL and ferritin levels. He was very open to this and was prepared to let me have one. It cost me the basic prescription charge- $6.40! It was , I think Injectafer. I am on a government concession so this may have some bearing on what they charged, I don't know.

My ferritin levels are now over 450 but unfortunately it didn't seem to make any difference to my RL! Still, it is definitely worth making sure that this option is tried, before looking to other treatments. However, as I write this, I would have to qualify... I have changed my medications lately having waited for four months to see if any improvement from the infusion and gone back on pramipexole (temporarily) and 10 mg Targin which seems to be giving some relief except for break through attacks late afternoon and evening, and sometimes disturbed nights at 1.30 -3.30, almost like clockwork! It's still better than it was - with 4/7 nights a week with no sleep; so maybe there was some augmentation from Tramadol and the Lyrica I was on for three months (which didn't do anything positive anyway!). I dropped Tramadol after Dr B suggested I may be augmenting on it. Who knows! There are so many variables and it's hard to know conclusively what is doing (or not doing) what!

[Hopeless100]

Caution,

too much Iron can cause serious symptoms, make sure you have this done gradually by a medical expert.

[Graham3196 in reply to Hopeless100]

How much is too much?