Ferrous Bisglycinate

[SwimLyn]

I have seen Ferrous bishlycinate mentioned several times on this forum & wondered if it's a prescribed medication or can ve bought @ chemist/ online freely?

[SueJohnson]

No prescription needed. It's OTC

[SwimLyn in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue for your prompt reply- I just hope I can say it properly 😀

[Joolsg]

It's available at all pharmacies and health shops in the UK.There was an interesting talk by Prof Toby Richards at our AGM yesterday about Iron.

He basically said that most iron preparations are fine and you need to take around 325mg a day, preferably in the morning.

That differs from Mayo Clinic Algorithm.

Hepcidin, the chemical that blocks iron absorption is lower in the morning and our stomach is more acid. So more iron is absorbed.

There are people on this forum who take ferrous bisglycinate EVERY night just before bed and it completely resolves ALL their RLS.

You can try taking it that way for a few nights. If it works, great. If not, take it either as per Prof. Toby Richards or the Mayo and get retested every 3 months to check serum ferritin.

But stop ALL iron supplements 3 days before the blood test.

[SueJohnson in reply to Joolsg]

Did he mean 325 mg of elemental iron? A coincidence that ferrous sulfate comes as 325 mg with 65 mg elemental iron.

I had "giving oral iron more than once a day or at a dose greater than 85 mg per day does not necessary lead to a greater increase in absorbable iron." from a Johns Hopkins source but checking it just now it doesn't talk about the amount of iron at all.

[Joolsg in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes, he did.

[Dires in reply to Joolsg]

So does that mean taking x 5 tablets of 325mg ferrous sulphate ?

[Joolsg in reply to Dires]

No. Just one x 325mg.

[Laineypl in reply to Joolsg]

Hubby just started on 20mg ferrous biscglycinate OTC, from reputable high street chemist. From reading these posts I reckon this dose is far too low???

[Joolsg in reply to Laineypl]

Ferrous bisglycinate is different. Only take as per instructions on the bottle.

[Laineypl in reply to Joolsg]

Thanks Joolsg

[SueJohnson in reply to Laineypl]

Your husband needs 65 mg of elemental iron. So he should take that much ferrous bisglycinate but since he is on blood thinners iron binds with blood thinners, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the blood thinners and of the iron so check with your doctor.

[Laineypl in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you

[Bks429 in reply to Joolsg]

Which is better: ferrous sulfate or bisglycinate?

[Joolsg in reply to Bks429]

Professor Toby Richards says they're all the same.However, many people report that gentle iron ( ferrous bisglycinate) is kinder on the stomach.

And some on here swear by ferrous bisglycinate taken every night.

It might work for you. You won't know until you try.

[SueJohnson in reply to Bks429]

If you take it every night it might stop your RLS completely for that 1 night. If not take it every other night.

[SwimLyn]

Again a massive thanks for info & advice Joolsg

[DicCarlson]

Ferrous bisglycinate is a patented formula, so any brand will be the same. the chief benefit over other iron supplements is the non-constipating effects with ferrous bisglycinate.

[Lynnygrl]

How many mg of ferrous bilglycinate at night