IV IRON AND REACTION TO THE IRON

[ROSEANNE]

Hi I received iron iv and had a reaction to the treatment due to my poor iron status they want to try iv iron ferrilicet I am on pddialysis any one have any luck with iv iron thanks

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Roseanne,

I'm sorry to hear that you had a reaction to IV iron. Because this can happen at any time, even to people who have had IV iron before with no problems, most doctors require that patients come into the clinic to get this treatment.

Ferrlecit (sodium ferric gluconate -- http://www.ferrlecit.com/ is less likely to cause allergic reactions than other forms of IV iron, so this sounds like a good approach.

Iron taken by mouth is usually not absorbed well enough to improve your iron levels--plus it can cause constipation. You can get some more iron in your diet by cooking in cast iron cookware. Some people take an iron elixer--this liquid form is apparently well-tolerated and absorbed better than pills with iron. (By the way, if you do take iron by mouth, don't take it at the same time as phosphate binders).