Medications causing iron deficiency
Common Questions and Answers about Medications causing iron deficiency
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I take quite a few medications and was recently put on a high dose of Iron, twice a day. I've been on the iron for about two months maybe and in the last week or two, my tummy started aching and hurting before I take it and after I take it too. Not sure if this is a reaction with any medications or what it might be.
I'm an 18 year old female and recently, I've noticed my hair falling out. Thinning, really, but it's alarming and I can feel a really significant volume difference. I went to a doctor who did some blood tests for thyroid, iron deficiency, and iron binding. It came back that I'm Iron Deficient Anemic. I started take 90mg of Elemental Iron daily. The texture of my hair is totally different but the thinning hasn't gotten any better at all!!
Help! I don't want to go bald!
There are numerous reasons for iron deficiency as i've found online..some quite surprising such as excessive exercise (that is not my problem). LOL
In regards to hypothyroidism, when metabolism decreases the bone marrow had difficulty producing red blood cells which can lead to iron anaemia. Also, low metabolism lowers stomach acid which in turn leads to the malabsorption of nutrients including iron. If your ferritin levels do not improve then have a look into other possible causes.
Also, do you have any bleeding any where or heavy period? A diet low in iron can cause iron deficiency too and some medications.
So at this moment it would be most likely you have iron deficiency but not to the point of yet affecting iron serum or causing anaemia. Iron deficiency is the #1 deficiency in the world.
Hello,
Low iron is an indicator of iron deficiency anemia and any low ferritin may be responsible for causing hair loss whether the iron levels are normal or low. But since you are mentioning that half of your hair have gone, so chronic telogen effluvium also needs to be ruled out. Chronic telogen effluvium is hair shedding lasting longer than 6 months. Treatment consists of medications like Minoxidil, surgical approach(hair transplantation) and improvement in diet.
It can also happen due to iron deficiency anemia causing Plummer-Vinson syndrome, where there changes to the soft lining of the throat, causing throat compression. Discuss these options with your doctor when you happen to meet him next time.
Hope this helped and do keep us posted.
Hi, we have iron deficiency anemia in a young woman that is refractory (it isn't helped) to taking iron supplements and balanced nutrition. Have your doctors considered autoimmune atrophic gastritis?
Iron deficiency anemia can cause most or all of your symptoms, and autoimmune atrophic gastritis can cause you to not absorb iron. Also, I'm guessing that you have some reason to suspect an autoimmune condition, since you asked on this forum.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
Hard to see how those problems would necessitate that many medications. The bruising, by the way, could well be a side effect of some of the meds you're on. Some of the other symptoms could be as well. Some other professional opinions will be good for you.
Hi Dr. Krishna,
I've been checked for B12 deficiency, and I'm normal, not deficient. Also I take vitamin C, B, multivitamin, zinc, iron and vitamin D supplements daily. I also take an antihistamine.
Please take a look at this chart showing my symptoms and medications week by week:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/266690
I'm wondering if you think allergies could cause these symptoms. I've noticed some improvement since moving out of my old apartment.
If they become low one can get generalized bruising. And of course, you already know some medications can affect platelets causing generalized bruising as well as other things.
There are other coagulation labs the physician can order too, but usually physicians want to look at basic labwork first.
Yes I use to be anemic and my iron comes back low. Try taking an extra iron supplement and eat more meats, greens, beans.
In this situation it is also expected that the absolute serum iron will be low. Normally in iron deficiency, iron is low, TIBC is high, percent saturation is low and ferritin is low. The iron can be low due to poor diet or due to inability of gut to absorb iron as seen in malabsorption syndromes, IBS etc. Iron supplements help but cause of deficiency needs to be found out.
Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral to a hematologist. Take care!
If you are in grade 11 and studying in school, really your parents should be taking care of you and your diet! For your iron deficiency you need to eat plenty of dark green vegetables. The best thing for it is liver (lambsfry), although it is an acquired taste and many people don't like it. Anaemia - iron deficiency - can definitely cause lethargy, a pale complexion etc. I think the problem may go deeper than just diet and I think you should see a doctor.
You need to supplement immediately. The iron count is probably your ferritin levels which is your iron storage. Your haemoglobin is normal because that's what's circulating in your blood because it's taken from your stores.
Your count is very low. It depends on what lab did your test but the last one I had here gave normal levels as between 30-200 (not sure of the units). Mine were 35 but although they looked normal I felt ****.
If you can't stand to take iron, eat iron-rich foods. But if you don't mind your iron supplements, begin to take them now. You will need the iron when you are breast-feeding, and you can use it now also.
Some people also just have certain medical problems that can cause a problem absorbing iron. And as I said, most iron supplements are not made in a form that is well-absorbed. I would say that if this continues and you're not getting any answers from your child's doctor, it might be time to see a different doctor for another opinion.
my son who is 2 years was diagnosed with a iron deficiency 4 months ago, he is currently taking a iron supplement and I have changed his diet but he seems to be getting weaker by the day. his skin is really pale he does not want to play and want to be carried all the time. any advise on this?
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