Understanding your iron deficiency

Did you know that iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are not the same thing? Iron deficiency is only one cause of anaemia. If you do not absorb iron each day, your body’s stores gradually run down.

As iron stores are used up, you become iron deficient. Over a long period of time, if iron deficiency is not corrected, you will develop iron deficiency anaemia, a serious condition where red blood cell production falls and oxygen transported around the body decreases.3

If you have recently been diagnosed with iron deficiency, rest assured you are not alone. Iron deficiency is actually quite common. In fact, one in six New Zealand women under 45 years may have some form of iron deficiency.1

Oral iron supplementation is a first-line therapy for treating iron deficiency.2 So if you’ve been prescribed ferrograd® you are on the right path to getting your iron levels back on track.

Here’s a few tips to help you get your iron levels sorted

Do's and Don'ts when taking Ferrograd® C

Do

Take Ferrograd® C on an empty stomach, at least 1-2 hours before eating or 2-4 hours after.

Continue taking Ferrograd® C for 3–6 months to replenish your iron stores.3,4

Take Ferrograd® C with food if stomach upsets, constipation, or diarrhoea become a problem.3

Consult your doctor if symptoms persist.

Don't

Don’t take Ferrograd® C with tea, coffee or wine, as they may reduce the absorption of iron.1,4

Don’t take antacids and calcium supplements while using Ferrograd® C, as they may reduce iron absorption.1

If you notice your stools are black after taking Ferrograd® C, don’t worry as this can occur with iron supplementation.

Don’t substitute Ferrograd® C, guidelines recommend 105-210mg of elemental iron per day to treat iron deficiency.5

Don’t stop taking Ferrograd® C earlier than recommended as iron deficiency may recur.

References
  1. Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA). Iron Deficiency. Clinical Update. First Ed 2008, updated October 2015. Available at: www.gesa.org.au (Accessed September 2019).
  2. Beck KL et al. Eur J Nutr 2013;52:467-476.
  3. Pasricha SS et al. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anaemia: a clinical update. Med J Aust 2010; 193:525-532.
  4. Baird-Gunning J. & Bromley J. Aust Prescr 2016;39:193-9.
  5. Iron Deficiency [revised March 2016.] In eTG complete. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; March 2014. Available at: https://online.tg.org.au/complete/. (Accessed September 2019).