After blood tests showed low ferritin and other values indicating iron deficient anaemia, the NHS did a fairly thorough job over 6 months with various tests and procedures to eliminate internal bleeds as a cause ( anticoagulant doesn't help!). Finally given the all clear and advised that iron supplementation is necessary. Well, well, well, who'd a thought it? In the meantime I'd started taking ferrous bisglycinate anyway, off my own back, both to help with anaemia and RLS. So the GP gave me a prescription for ferrous Fumarate (1 x 210mg once daily) and said to review in 4 months. I asked for bisglycinate instead, and he had never heard of it, had to spell the name, not on his list to prescribe. So will likely go along with things until review but would be happy to have thoughts / advice on here (Sue?) .
Iron deficiency : After blood tests... - Restless Legs Syn...
Iron deficiency
According to the British National Formulary the oral iron salts that you're likely to be prescribed in the UK are:
Iron salt/amount - Content of ferrous iron
ferrous fumarate 200 mg - 65 mg
ferrous gluconate 300 mg - 35 mg
ferrous sulfate 300 mg - 60 mg
ferrous sulfate, dried 200 mg - 65 mg
The reason that ferrous bisglycinate, 'Gentle Iron' is often recommended here instead is because it is less likely to cause bowel issues (and is readily available OTC).
Thanks. That's exactly why I would prefer bisglycinate, in case, had enough bowel issues from medications over the years.
I may have told you this before but in case I didn't: take your iron bisglycinate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Take it every other day, preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee or tea and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee or tea since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and the tannins in coffee and tea limit absorption. If you take magnesium, calcium or zinc, even in a multivitamin take them at least 2 hours apart since they interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption so should be taken at least 4 hours before the iron or at least 2 hours after. Don't take your iron tablets before or after exercise since inflammation peaks after a workout. Don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron or at least take it in the morning if you take your iron at night. If you take thyroid medicine don't take it within 4 hours. It takes several months for the iron tablets to slowly raise your ferritin. Ask for a new blood test after 3 months.
Thanks Sue. Will see how to plot it into my meds regime.
My GP (UK) also only prescribes fumarate. I think bisyglate is in the US but in the UK doctors like ours prescribe ferrous fumarate in my experience.
Maybe they should talk to Holland & Barrett. Whatever ferrous type I take, I am hoping it might finally bring some relief from the fatigue from anaemia and the disturbance from RLS, where currently my only defence, apart from diet,is my Therapulse, which is great but reactive as I only use it when RLS has kicked in.
I will try Holland & Barrett but I.can't work out when to take iron looking at Sue's timetable- 2 hrs before this. One hour before that or 2 hrs after this.I can't find a free slot apart from 2 hrs after supper at 10pm & that is when I take my buprenorphine & I don't want to take them together.
My GP says just take iron WITH main meal & redoxon vit C.
Agree it's a bit of a challenge when you are taking a range of other meds, and have to eat as well. Will have to ignore one of the criteria and hope for the best. Btw , the H&B f bisglycinate is labelled as Gentle Iron.
The UK has it - it is just OTC rather than prescribed.
Ok tx Sue.
You could ask for an infusion.I had one last year when I became anaemic despite taking a daily iron pill.
Ferrous Bisglycinate chelate is a patented formula now owned by Balchem. So, any OTC formula will have the same product albeit in various dosages. I still have the original bottle I used (it cost $5US!). Iron supplements TOTALLY eliminated my severe RLS in less than a month (Ferritin went from 49 to 105). Do consider also that iron absorption can be helped with the addition of a probiotic (LP299v). See page 14 probi below
balchem.com/human-nutrition...
probi.com/media/dvlbarae/lp...
Very interesting addition of a probiotic. Have you tried it? How expensive is it?
It is fairly inexpensive - I get any supplements from VitaCost in the US. I take it periodically - no iron issues for me for years now. It is also the main probiotic in the Good Belly brand of drinks.
As a matter of interest what was your ferritin level?
I can't absorb iron due to to Coeliac Disease, so I take Gentle Iron with orange juice, every other day.
I have managed to get the occasional iron infusion, once when my reading of ferritin was a mere 7, once when it was considered too low for an operation . The third time was when my Gp's mother happened to hold a position the Haematology Dept at the Hospital.
Any other requests from my doctor have resulted in refusals, because it's not considered low enough due to ignorance of RLS.
My last infusion was about 6 months ago, but my level is now down to 60, despite taking gentle iron.
I'm about to have a fight about having another infusion.
I hope you find a solution to your problems.
Nonnie.
My serum ferritin was 12, down from last recording of 54 in 2021. It will be checked again in a few months after supplementation with ferrous fumarate.
Slightly off topic but the UK is the only country in the world with the "Gatekeeper" system where you have to go through your GP to get specialist treatment. In the rest of the world, France, Germany, Australia, Japan (where I lived), you call the iron infusion specialist and book an appointment direct, no-one blocks you unless the specialist advises against it.
That is not true. At least also in The Netherlands (where I live) you can only get to a specialist doctor through your GP. Not even a ‘private’ option, as seems possible in the UK.
That's very interesting thank you, I hadn't heard of another country where you have to go through your GP other than the UK, I wonder if any other European countries are the same. In Japan if you had a stomach problem, you went straight to the stomach specialist, obviously it works extremely well. I read that the UK is the only country to be experiencing a crisis in waiting lists following COVID and other countries have generally recovered now.
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