How much Proferrin do you take?

I've had some constipation issues with my iron.  In addition I like that with Proferrin you don't need additional C and can take it without worrying that it will be blocked by certain foods so I'm going to ask my doctor for a prescription.

My question is this:  What is a good starting dose of Proferrin for a DSer?

Thanks in advance!

I just started a new iron regime. Currently I take 150 mg of Proferrin and 150 mg of carbonyl iron. All together.

new labs will be drawn at the end of the month.  To combat the constipated I make sure I upped my water, and green veggies. Salads have been my best freeing lately.

good luck.

Thank you. So it sounds like 300/day, regardless of iron type. Good luck with your labs!

Because you are male there is an excellent chance the iron in a double dose of multi's will be enough for you.  So don't stress about this and take whatever works for you till you get your lab info.

Pre surgery I was just barely above the minimum of normal range and the trend was going down. Just in case I do need iron, what do you think a good dose would be?

The easiest and probably best thing you can do is make sure there is iron in your multi.  Cook in cast iron whenever you can.  And take 1 normal dose of iron per day.  Whatever the bottle says.  This would give you quite a bit more than RDA.

Almost all the low iron infusion stuff is a girl issue.  IRL many women have low iron and almost no men.  Women seldom have high iron but men sometimes do and it's not good for you!

If I wanted to get in more than that, I would concentrate on high iron foods.  JMHO but the iron in food seems to be better tolerated than many of the iron supplements.  Iron is the only thing I had problems taking.  It literally made me sick.  But I kept trying different types of iron and finally I tried iron glycinate and it works for me.

Thanks, Patty!  I'll bear all of that in mind...

I don't take proferrin and don't have constipation issues as I'm more likely to have loose stools. One reason for loose stools for me that may help you is that I eat a lot of fat compared to most others.

Avacados, butter, whole milk and Baskin Robbins ice cream are all part of my normal nutrition regiment.

The loose stools don't really bother me and are probably less discomfort than constipation. I would suggest adding a lot more fat for a few days to see how your body handles it.

There is only 10.5 mg per caplet in Proferrin ES, I'm not sure if the prescription is the same. Check me, but I think the highest recommended dose is 4 caplets per day. Proferrin / heme iron, is so mild I think you could start with 4 all at the same time. If you want to ease into that much at once, that wouldn't be a bad strategy either. If you can swing it, I'd try 4 per day and then ask to have your iron markers, including ferritin, retested in 3 months and see if it's enough to either maintain or starts helping your markers improve. Good luck!

--gina

Thank you!