Iron patches

Since I up'ed my iron dosage several months ago, I have had some problems with my stomach. Some of you have said that you use iron vitamin patches. My doctor is not familiar with them. Do they require a prescription? Where do you get them? Are they expensive? I know that they have mixed results, but I'm thinking that I might like to try them.

Thanks!

I think it is patch MD.

I can't speak to if they work or not, I do not take anything on orders from my hematologist.

Yes, the patches I use are from www.patchmd.com. But it seems that people have wildly different results with them, so I use them as a "back up" and still use oral vitamins, too. I take patches for Iron, D3 & a Multi.

But if the iron is hurting your stomach, you might be taking the wrong kind. You should look for Carbonyl Iron which is the best absorbed and also easiest on the tummy. I use a brand called EZ Melts, which is a sublingual.

Between the sublingual and the patches I have been able to raise my ferritin from 6 up to 28. Still not where it should be, but I am slowly getting there.

Many of the OTC irons are not carbonyl iron and will cause stomach upset. I use Vitron C which Walmart and Walgreens carry. I also add more C to help me absorb better. The other forms of iron are cheaper to make so more commonly used. I've also heard proferrin iron is good but more pricy.

I get my patches from patchMD. I have amazing results with all of the patches . . . except for the iron. My ferritin dropped from 204(ish. I can't remember the exact number) to 118. While that is still a good level, we were concerned with almost a 100 point drop since April of this year. I now use the patch (and will until I run out) but have gone back to oral iron. I take Vitron C. While it doesn't cause stomach issues with me, it does cause constipation which was greatly improved with the patch. But, it's pretty clear that I'm not absorbing it, so it's back to the drawing board for me.