I am a 40 year old female and just found out I am slightly anemic.How long should I take an iron supplement ?

Question

How long to take. mg's per day and will I notice a difference in the way I feel after taking them.

Answer 1

You should probably just start taking a multivitamin with iron in it. Make sure to take it with orange juice or something else containing a large amount of vitamin C, as that increases absorption. Also, you should be re-checked for anemia in about a month by your doctor, so that you can see if you need to increase your iron intake or if you are possibly folic acid or vitamin B12 deficient - both of those can also cause anemia.

Answer 2

I'm going on the assumption you've had blood tests done, including hemo, ferritin, etc. indicating you're anemic - and your doctor has asked you to take iron supplements? If you go the route of iron supplements - they should be taken with vitamin C - and on a full stomach. Can also cause constipation. Could take a month or so before you feel more energy. If you go with the iron injection (the doctor's office does this) - this is what I would suggest -- It's injected right into the muscle and easily absorbed by the body. You should start to feel better in a week or so.

Watch your diet and ensure you're eating foods rich in iron and/or taking a multivitamin. I would also suggest a follow up blood test (if you get the injection) in about 4 months time to see how you're doing. I tend to be anemic and I am at the point where I get my blood work checked out every six months or if I start to feel tired. My indicator for anemia is that I get small red spots on my tongue.

Best of luck - hopes this is of some help.

Answer 3

Depending on the form of Iron. Start with 18 to 28 mgs per day and I would suggest an Easy Iron or a Slow Iron. You need Iron until you reach menopause.

Answer 4

You probably should keep taking iron supplements until you are through menopause, because your monthly period will keep draining your iron supply. Because your anemia is slight, you may not notice any difference, or you may feel a bit more energy. With more severe anemia (I developed this when I started having really heavy periods in my late 40s) you can feel your heart racing at times. This cleared up quickly when I started taking extra iron supplements. (I had to take 3 pills a day for a while.)

Answer 5

Take the multivitamin with iron in it everyday of your life if you can, you will benefit from it always most of the food you eat cannot give you the nutrients that you need the vitamin will keep you healthier so take it everyday of your life.

Answer 6

if you don't eat enough iron fortified food, which hard to do, you will probably have to take the iron for the rest of your life.

i am anemic myself, and have to take two iron pills a day and i also take two stool softeners with my iron pills so i don't get stopped up. because the iron pills will clog you up,

being anemic, sometimes make me tired very easy. i hope this helps you

Answer 7

buy the bottle and follow the directions. talk to your doctor. you should have been taking them since you got your first period. and yes you are going to feel a lot better. a multivitamin wouldn't hurt you either. did any one remember to tell you to drink 8 glasses of water a day? if not do that to. you going to feel so much better.

Answer 8

How slightly are you anemic, take a womens vitamin that has iron in it if you are only slightly anemic

Answer 9

ask your dr. cause too much iron is not good for you. i for one take two supplements a day cause i am 38 w/ anemia gets worst when my cycle comes.

Answer 10

Follow your doctors order.
You should be able to take less over time, and eventually stop taking them.
That's what I did