Q:
I have been to BioLife twice in the past couple of days to attempt to donate plasma. However, my iron levels have been too low. I tried just eating iron-rich foods for a few days before going back, but my iron level was the same, so she suggested that I come back in a week after having taken some iron supplements.
When I went to the pharmacy, the pharmacist suggested that I take 3 pills a day, but the box says to take 1. I was wondering what would be the proper amount to take, because I don't want to make myself sick, and 3 iron pills seems like a lot.
Also, my iron is only one point lower (37) than it needs to be to donate. I don't know if that matters.
Thank You!
A:
Taking oral iron does have side effects such as nausea and constipation so taking three iron supplement tablets daily would risk that. One daily is usually well tolerated.
It can take a month or more to replace depleted iron stores so you have to give this some time. You also have to consider potential blood loss such as heavy menstrual periods as complicating this.
Try one daily for two weeks and then get rechecked. If you are still not at an adequate level of red cells, we can actually test your blood for iron levels and ferritin to see if you are truly iron deficient or perhaps there is another explanation for your anemia.
~The Doc
