Hi Everyone. Have been a member for some while but have never posted before. I went to the doctor's yesterday for blood test results and he seemed quite concerned because after three months of taking iron tablets for iron deficiency my iron count had not just gone up but had fallen even further, which he says is impossible. Looking back through my records he said that my iron levels had not been right since 2005 (the year when I was diagnosed with T2). Has anyone ever heard of iron deficiency being linked to medication such as Metformin? I have read that B12 deficiency can be related to long term Metformin use, and I also have to have B12 injections every three months, but the doctor says there is no correlation between Metformin and iron deficiency. Can any one help or point me in the direction of articles/research?
Iron Deficiency
- Thread starter RedPanda15
- Start Date
Did your Dr, suggest stopping the Metformin to see if things improve?
I would ask for a referral to a Haematologist as you need to know why the B12 injections are not raising your iron levels.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Introduction.aspx
I would ask for a referral to a Haematologist as you need to know why the B12 injections are not raising your iron levels.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Introduction.aspx
borderter
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Just a thought but are you taking stomach acid medication as that stops iron adsorbtion
Indy51
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I developed iron deficiency after just 6 months on metformin (SR version) - it caused bleeding gastritis for me. Do you get any pain on your left side under the ribs? I had pain there, but also general upper GI (all above belly button) bloating and discomfort. It was when they started testing for occult sources of bleeding to explain the low ferritin that they performed an endoscopy and discovered the stomach bleeding. I stopped taking metformin, had a series of 5 ferritin shots and now my levels are fine.
PatsyB
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I also have Iron deficiency ..... stopped taking metformin for a month to no avail it still dropped so am back on metformin. I have had an endoscope which found nothing, have had a CT of colon which showed nothing cept a nudule on bottom of right lung.. I have also had one iron infusion and still one more to go and still feel like I have no energy but keep going.... never felt like this before and am unsure what is causing the iron deficiency......
Have you been checked for a gluten intolerance? A relative recently disovered they are a coeliac and one of their symptoms was anaemia as it is caused by nutrients not being absorbed. Could be worth checking on the off chance. Hope you are better soon
PatsyB
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Had a CT colon scan which shown up the nodule at the bottom of my lung which aparantly does not show up on an a chest X-ray...that i think would show if coeliac was present as I too thought that and was looking into the gluten free diet...... i was told the scan was fine but do go to see the Specialist who sent me for the scan on following tuesday so will ask him. I have had two infusions now the last being yesterday which entails all day at the hospital with a steady drip of iron going into a vein..... would be a nice rest but for some reason temp goes up and blood pressure down....as soon as got home taken a paracetamol ... laughs ...lets see if this gives me more energy and hopefully builds my blood up again
