Tag: Iron injections

According to the Cleveland Clinic, healthcare providers usually prescribe oral iron supplements first, but many patients ultimately require IV iron for optimal results due to poor absorption or intolerance. This guide compares whether iron injections are better than iron pills by exploring key factors like absorption, speed, side effects, and cost.

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, often leading to anemia. In treating this condition, many patients wonder: do doctors still give iron injections? The answer reveals a significant shift in medical practice, favoring safer and more effective intravenous infusions over traditional intramuscular injections.

Decades ago, intramuscular (IM) iron injections were a standard treatment for iron deficiency anemia when oral supplements failed. Today, however, medical consensus has shifted significantly, with modern guidelines now favoring safer and more effective intravenous (IV) iron formulations. This shift is primarily due to the considerable pain, tissue damage, and inconsistent absorption associated with IM injections.