Iron infusions

[Laura9594]

I have Restless Leg Syndrome, and also low iron (without anemia). However, I'm not able to take iron supplements as they're upsetting to my GI tract. My doctor is recommending an Iron infusion (this is putting iron directly into the bloodstream to avoid the GI tract). I've heard that this works for many, but some people have serious side effects. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thank you!!

[LotteM]

This is hopeful. I saw in your other post that your ferritin level is 10.4. That is below the normal range. More importantly, RLS is thought to be caused by low brain iron. There is no good way to assess iron level in the brain other than after death, but it has been shown that people with RLS need higher ferritin levels than non-RLS people. Ferritin for us should be above 100, perhaps above 300.

Long story short, increasing iron and especially by infusion, may resolve your RLS.

There is a scientific paper about iron treatment for RLS: sciencedirect.com/science/a...

However, last year updated treatment guidelines give more concise and easier to read information about the role if iron for RLS and how to treat low iron: mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

If you want, let us know how you get on. Good luck.

[Graham3196 in reply to LotteM]

I have spoken to half a dozen doctors about the safety of iron infusions and most of them spoke of potential problems but when pressed for details of specifically what they meant they gave silly answers. "There is always a risk of infection with any procedure that punctures the skin" "if you accidentally give too much your ferritin might exceed 1000 and that MIGHT damage your vital organs" Amusing in view of the last couple of years when billions of people have been encouraged to get injections but not funny if relief from RLS might be just one injection away!The nasty but legitimate reason was that it wasnt in the manual and therefore I wont do it

WE were tougher when I was young. The whole 750 pupils from my school lined up in an enormous queue and we all got our polio shots from one needle. Suitably sterilised over a small methylated spirits burner between uses. Of course I never heard how many didn't survive.

[SueJohnson]

Are you taking any medicines for your RLS?

[Laura9594]

Thank you for your helpful comments! And no, currently I'm not taking any medications for RLS, but I am trying to find something to take orally that won't upset my stomach.Also, by reading these comments, I'm feeling like getting an iron transfusion would be very helpful!

[Zyxx]

I never take iron supplements, because they just don’t seem to help. But I take Floradix, a herbal iron solution, and I just drink a few bottles. That helps. I doubt Floradix would give gi trouble.

[Hidden]

The safety profile of IV iron preparations has improved in recent years. Some of the horror stories eg anaphylactic reactions, were in response to the older formulas and even then, that was a relatively small number of cases. In the main they appear to be safe. I've had 3 or so iron infusions and know plenty of people who have also had them.