Is iron spray any good for night-time dosing?

[SunnyJim100]

Has anyone any experience with using iron supplement in spray format? Presumably you’d need a few squirts but better tolerated?

Contains iron in the form ferric sodium edtate & ferric ammonium citrate.

[ChrisColumbus]

What iron/ferritin level are you trying to improve and how quickly do you want/need to do it?

I've no experience of iron sprays, having always had moderately high ferritin levels, but I did try magnesium oil sprays to absolutely no effect - so I take magnesium tablets. But some do get benefit from sprays and creams - but they generally deliver low doses.

Depending on which country you are in, GPs generally prescribe ferrous sulphate or fumarate to improve iron scores: these are fine for many people but others struggle with oral iron side effects.

For oral iron with fewer or no side effects purchase ferrous bisglycinate - 'Gentle Iron'.

The other possibility is of course an iron infusion: availability and cost of these also varies by country.

[SunnyJim100 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

UK based. Fumarate problematic so ‘gentle iron’ is the next step. Mum’s ferritin is 83. Previous post refers but we can’t get in front of a neurologist for a while so want/need to try some self supplementing.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SunnyJim100]

See Sue's reply below which includes dose instructions etc for the bisglycinate tablets/capsules.

Also read this from RLS-UK, which includes info about infusions - although unfortunately it can be difficult to get an iron infusion to treat RLS in much of the UK:

rls-uk.org/_files/ugd/b0a19...

[SueJohnson]

Generally iron sprays contain only a small amount of iron. For example the Better You one has only a 5 mg and 10 mg one when you need 65 mg. Can you tell me how much your spray has? Can you tell me the name of the spray.

[SunnyJim100 in reply to SueJohnson]

That’s the one I looked at. Only 5mg dose per pump.

[SueJohnson]

I looked at the 10 mg one which listed the iron and it has what you stated so that is probably the one you have. It takes 4 sprays to get the 10 mg so to get 65 mg would require 26 sprays. Since you would get only 6 days from a spray and it is not cheap to begin with that makes it pretty expensive. £14.95

[SunnyJim100 in reply to SueJohnson]

Yep, that makes sense. Need a much bigger hit than a spray. Possibly useful for maintenance dosing. . . ?

[SueJohnson]

If she takes blood thinners, iron binds with blood thinners, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the blood thinners and of the iron so check with her doctor. Otherwise, she should take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate which contains 65 mg of elemental iron, the normal amount used to increase ones ferritin, or 50 mg to 75 mg (which is elemental iron) of iron bisglycinate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Also take Lactobacillus plantarum 299v as it also helps its absorption. Ferrous sulfate is fine for most people, but if she has problems with constipation, iron bisglycinate is better.

She should 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 she takes magnesium, calcium or zinc, even in a multivitamin she should 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.

She shouldn't take her iron tablets before or after exercise since inflammation peaks after a workout. She shouldn't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron. If she takes thyroid medicine she shouldn't take it within 4 hours. It takes several months for the iron tablets to slowly raise one's ferritin. Ask for a new blood test after 3 months.