Floradix liquid iron supplement

[YoghurtLover2]

does anybody have experience with Floradix ? I had my first ever iron infusion today (after a long struggle to get a requisition) to try get iron up from 36 ferritin count for RLS and hoping it will help with very low energy level too. Other oral iron supplements didn't work. I have blood test scheduled for in 3 weeks (had mono-Ferron infusion … I think that is what the nurse said) to see if infusion worked. Is it better to stay with infusions or try Floradix in future? My friend says she had amazing results with this 🤷‍♂️

[Clamire]

Hi Lover2, I have no experience with that form of iron, so can’t advise. I see that as of about two weeks ago, you were sleeping well, and had made it to the other side of the DA hump. The rule around here (well at least my rule) is if something is working for you, stick with it. It seems as though the Gabapentin, oral iron and magnesium were allowing you to get a good night’s sleep. That’s the important thing, not so much your ferritin level. After an infusion, I don’t think you need to supplement for a little while, so maybe hold off on buying the iron. It will be interesting to see how your RLS is in the next few days and weeks. If it’s the same, that tells me the oral iron wasn’t helping with your RLS much. My theory, of course, says that your RLS should be worse, however marginally, without that nightly iron supplement.

[ChrisColumbus]

You need to give the infusion time to work. RLS-UK guidance is that clinical response to an infusion can take up to 6 weeks *or longer*, so you may not see improvement at 3 weeks. If RLS does not improve, repeated infusions can be given in at least 12-week intervals.

As for Floradix, it is a mixture of iron, vitamins and herbal extracts containing fairly low levels of elemental iron. It won't do you harm but it is not an alternative to an infusion or higher content oral iron supplements in terms of raising ferritin.

Just as a matter of interest, you say that other oral iron supplements didn't work: did you try iron bisglycinate 'Gentle Iron', how much did you take for how long?

[YoghurtLover2 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

I was taking one capsule iron bisglycinate .as prescribed on the bottle … 25mg ..,and when I saw on this forum I should take 75 to 100 mg I started taking 3 . Then opportunity for iron infusion came up and I thought I’ll just go for it! Sounded like a faster route to get iron up . My thoughts are … if Iron helps …maybe I can decrease Gabapentin in future . I’m on 600mg atm. Some nights I get good sleep .. waking up only once … some nights I wake up every 2 hours … and some nights I do have to massage legs at some stage during the night . But all in all… I do way better than before and am very thankful to this forum for helping me get better sleep 🙏🙏🙏

[ChrisColumbus in reply to YoghurtLover2]

Let's see how your ferritin and RLS are in 6-8 weeks before making any further decisions: good luck!

[SueJohnson]

Floradix only has 10 mg of elemental iron and you need at least 65 mg. However with your low ferritin I advice at least 85 mg.

Also wait 8 weeks after your infusion as testing anytime sooner will give you a false high ferritin.

[YoghurtLover2 in reply to SueJohnson]

That is VERY timely advice … thanks Sue. I had lab appointment booked for in 3 weeks .. I’ll change that to 8 weeks.

Thank you so much for your time and all you do for all of us 🙏

[Clamire in reply to YoghurtLover2]

Hi again, how did you sleep last night?