Iron Injections

In understanding how injectable iron can benefit your health, it's important to know what iron actually does for your body.  Iron is what builds your healthy red blood cells as well as your hemoglobin, the necessary blood protein carrying oxygen to every cell in your body. Iron injections are offered to patients for whom dietary changes and oral iron supplements are not working to resolve the anemia.

You are a candidate for iron injections if you:

• Can't tolerate the side effects of oral iron supplements

• Have a digestion or gastrointestinal issue negating iron from being well absorbed into your body

• Have low iron levels due to blood loss

• Take erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to boost your red blood cell production

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:

If you're feeling low-energy, exhausted, or the need to take regular naps, don't assume it's due to everyday, normal life stressors. And those headaches you've been having lately? They might not be your sinuses after all. You could have iron poor blood.

Here are some other symptoms that point to an iron deficiency, also known as anemia:

• You are short of breath

• You feel weak

• Your heart pounds hard for no reason, or you feel irregular heartbeats

• You have restless leg syndrome

• You crave ice, clay, dirt, or paper

• You are anxious for no reason

• You're losing hair

• Your tongue is sore, inflamed, or weirdly smooth

• You look pale

Causes of Iron Deficiency:

Some causes of iron deficiency include

• An underactive thyroid

• Heavy or abnormal periods

• Pregnancy

• Celiac Disease

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• Vegan or vegetarian eating, if you're not getting enough dark, leafy greens and legumes, and combining those foods with vitamin C foods for better absorption of your iron

Side-Effects of Iron Injections:

While iron injections are the next line of defense after dietary changes and oral supplements are ineffective, iron injections are not without their own side effects. While some patients tolerate them well, some do not. These side effects can include:

• Pain at the site of the injection

• Flushing or headaches

• Fever or chills

• Low blood pressure

• Muscle and joint pain

• Rashes

• Nausea

To ensure you are not allergic to iron injections, your healthcare provider will administer a small iron injection before your treatment to validate that you are not allergic.

Call us today for more information about iron injections. Call us at or contact us online.