If you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency with or withoutanemia, it may seem like an easy fix. “I’ll just take some iron tabs, and everything will be fine.” Although this is true for many people with iron deficiency, it can be much more complicated.
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Determining Which Iron Therapy Is Right for You
When determining which iron therapy—oral or intravenous (IV)—is right for you, it is important to consider several factors, including the following.
Options for IV Iron
For many years, IV iron was reserved for severe cases of iron deficiency anemia because the IV iron products available could cause allergic or anaphylactic reactions. However, newer formulations are safer and far less likely to have these reactions.Some of the forms of currently available IV iron are reviewed below.
Iron Infusion: How Long It Takes & What Else to Expect
A Word From Verywell
Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia in the United States and worldwide. Although oral iron can be an easy, inexpensive treatment for many people, it may not be the best option for everyone. Discuss with your physician all of your treatment options, including risks and benefits, prior to starting new medications.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jimenez K, Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Gasche C.Management of iron deficiency anemia.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(4):241-250.Schrier SL, Auerbach M.Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Up to Date. Waltham, MA.Schaefer B, Meindl E, Wagner S, et al.Intravenous iron supplementation therapy.Mol Aspects Med. 2020;75:100862. doi:10.1016/j.mam2020.100862
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Jimenez K, Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Gasche C.Management of iron deficiency anemia.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(4):241-250.Schrier SL, Auerbach M.Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Up to Date. Waltham, MA.Schaefer B, Meindl E, Wagner S, et al.Intravenous iron supplementation therapy.Mol Aspects Med. 2020;75:100862. doi:10.1016/j.mam2020.100862
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jimenez K, Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Gasche C.Management of iron deficiency anemia.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(4):241-250.Schrier SL, Auerbach M.Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Up to Date. Waltham, MA.Schaefer B, Meindl E, Wagner S, et al.Intravenous iron supplementation therapy.Mol Aspects Med. 2020;75:100862. doi:10.1016/j.mam2020.100862
Jimenez K, Kulnigg-Dabsch S, Gasche C.Management of iron deficiency anemia.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2015;11(4):241-250.
Schrier SL, Auerbach M.Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults. Up to Date. Waltham, MA.
Schaefer B, Meindl E, Wagner S, et al.Intravenous iron supplementation therapy.Mol Aspects Med. 2020;75:100862. doi:10.1016/j.mam2020.100862
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