IV Iron
Common Reasons Patients Seek IV Iron
Patients who benefit from IV iron often experience:
- Persistent fatigue or low energy even after a full night's sleep
- Shortness of breath or palpitations during everyday activity or exercise
- Decline in athletic performance
- Brain fog, dizziness, headaches, or difficulty concentrating
- Hair shedding, brittle nails, or pale skin
- Heavy menstrual periods or post-partum blood loss
- Stomach pain, constipation, or nausea from oral iron pills
- Iron deficiency following GI surgery or bariatric procedures, or secondary to chronic blood loss
A physician can review lab work — including iron saturation, TIBC, and ferritin levels — to determine whether IV iron is appropriate.
How IV Iron Compares to Oral Supplements
How IV Iron Works
Oral iron supplements may be slow to take effect and can cause GI side effects for some patients.
Potential advantages of IV iron over oral iron may include:
- Faster repletion — many patients report improvement in energy levels
- No stomach cramps, nausea, or constipation
- May be appropriate for patients with IBD, celiac disease, or post-bariatric surgery who have difficulty absorbing oral iron
- A single course may replete levels that could take many months to achieve with pills
- Administered in a relaxing, comfortable medical infusion suite