Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation (TSAT) numbers

[williamghenry]

Good afternoon,

My GP has prescribed Pregabalin Teva 25 mg Capsules Hard I take two a day two to three hours before going to bed and app. one hour before going to bed I have been on Pregabalin for eight days

I have also been prescribed Ferrous Sulfate Tablets 200 mg I take one a day on an empty stomach I also take Folic Acid once per day My Iron Levels are 6.1 instead of the recommended level of 11

I also had a full iron panel last week in the morning

My Ferritin number is 66ng and my transferrin saturation (TSAT) number is 10%

Can you please advise what my next course of action is and if I am on the correct medication?

I feel that my RLS is improving very slowly but I still get very little sleep no more that two hours per night and no sleep at all for two to three nights per week.

Thank you

Kind regards,

William Henry

[SueJohnson]

Your TSAT is very low at 10%. It would be best if you could get an iron transfusion. Short of that I would take two of the ferrous sulfate tablets. You are only getting 40 mg of elemental iron with one and the normal amount is 325 mg ferrous sulfate which gives 65 mg of elemental iron. Since you can take up to 85 mg, that is why I suggest 2 of the ones you were prescribed. Take it preferably at night with 100 mg of vit C or some orange juice. Take them at the same time every night so they are at least 24 hours apart. If you take magnesium or calcium take them at least 2 hours apart since they interferes with the absorption of iron. Don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption. I would take the both capsules of the pregabalin 1 to 2 hours before bedtime unless you have symptoms before that.

[ChrisColumbus]

I know that Sue has answered and advised on this, but just thought that I'd check that you know that you're aiming for a serum ferritin number over 100 - preferably nearer 200 - and your transferrin saturation to be between 16%-50% (men) (16%-45% for women).

[SueJohnson]

After you have been on the pregabalin 3 weeks, raise it by 25 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that controls your RLS. The usual effective dose is 200 to 300 mg.

[DicCarlson]

If constipation becomes a problem - ferrous bisglycinate chelate might be a better supplement. More info on iron status and tests here...

bloodtestsresults.com/iron-...

[PoorRichard in reply to DicCarlson]

This is an excellent and thorough article about iron in the body.

[WideBody in reply to PoorRichard]

If you liked that t, you will love this one. sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[DTache]

Iron levels are too low; I would encourage you to increase how much you take to iron sulfate 325mg with Vitamin C 200mg for improved absorption.