Home Symptoms Anemia

Anemia — what to take?

Anemia = a drop in hemoglobin (below 13 g/dL in men, 12 g/dL in women). The most common form is iron-deficiency anemia (80% of anemias). Causes: blood loss, poor absorption, nutrition.

Also known as: low hemoglobin iron-deficiency anemia megaloblastic anemia
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In short: Anemia means hemoglobin that is too low (below 13 g/dl in men, 12 g/dl in women), and the iron-deficiency form — caused by a lack of iron — accounts for about 80% of cases. In pharmacies you can find, without a prescription, iron with vitamin C (which aids its absorption), liposomal or bisglycinate iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the price of these OTC options across the major pharmacies — Dr. Max, Tei, Catena and HelpNet — with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace medical advice: see a doctor if your hemoglobin is very low (below 8 g/dl), or if severe shortness of breath or black stools appear.

Data verified on from public sources (OpenStreetMap, chain websites, ANM/MS) — updated daily.

OTC — no prescription

What can you take for anemia?

Informational only — HartaFarmacii is not an approved medical site. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. Don't self-medicate. Emergencies: 112.

When to see a doctor

If any of these signs appear, see a doctor — OTC treatment is not enough:

  • Hemoglobin below 8 g/dL
  • Severe dyspnea, chest pain
  • Black stools (melena)
  • Heavy bleeding
  • Lack of response to treatment
  • Anemia in an elderly person without an obvious cause (digestive investigations mandatory)

Main types

Iron-deficiency — the most common. Causes: heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, GI losses (ulcer, hemorrhoids, polyps, colorectal cancer), malabsorption (celiac disease), poor diet.

Megaloblastic — B12 or folate deficiency. In the elderly, vegans, post-bariatric-surgery patients.

Anemia of chronic disease — in chronic inflammation, cancer, kidney disease.

Hemolytic, aplastic, myelodysplastic — rarer, specific.

Symptoms

Fatigue, pallor, palpitations, exertional dyspnea, brittle and concave nails, hair loss, dizziness, fainting, abnormal cravings for unusual substances (pica — ice, clay).

Iron-deficiency treatment

Ferric salts:

  • Ferrous sulfate 325 mg (65 mg elemental Fe) — classic, cheap, but causes constipation and heartburn.
  • Ferrous fumarate (Ferro-Gradumet) — better tolerated.
  • Liposomal iron (Sideral) — superior absorption, fewer adverse effects.
  • Iron bisglycinate — excellent tolerability.

Dose: 60-100 mg elemental Fe/day, preferably on an empty stomach with vitamin C, spaced away from coffee/tea/dairy (which reduce absorption). Treatment for 3-6 months to replenish iron stores.

Intravenous iron — for oral intolerance, malabsorption, kidney failure.

B12 deficiency treatment

B12 injections 1000 mcg (for severe deficiency, malabsorption, Biermer's disease). Oral 1000-2000 mcg/day. Sublingual as an alternative.

The cause — crucial to identify

Iron-deficiency anemia in an adult is NOT just a dietary problem. It requires investigations — gastroscopy, colonoscopy, gynecological evaluation — to rule out occult bleeding or malignant disease.

Medical disclaimer: the information in this guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. For diagnosis and treatment, consult a healthcare professional.

Medicines compared

Medicines used for anemia

This list is for guidance only, generated automatically from the DCI/category match. It is not a medical recommendation — consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

This list is not a medical recommendation. Consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Night-time, weekends, public holidays

24/7 pharmacies for anemia

Anemia doesn't keep office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 a.m. or at the weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter switched on and look for the nearest on-duty pharmacy. Large cities have dozens of pharmacies open around the clock — below you have direct access to the list for each city, with address, phone number and verified opening hours.

Call before you set off, especially at night — on-duty rotas change and stock of some prescription medicines can be limited between deliveries.

Search the pharmacy

Medicine categories for anemia

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for anemia

Open the interactive map and allow location access — you will immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it is night or the weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-duty ones. For anemia many medicines are available over the counter, so you can go straight to the pharmacy without a prescription, but check availability on the price comparator first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active substance (for example paracetamol or ibuprofen), search for it in the comparator before you leave — you will see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it is in stock. If you have a repeat prescription, save your preferred pharmacy as a favourite in the app and turn on opening-hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially if treatment for anemia goes on for a while.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Fatigue

Fatigue is a persistent lack of energy, beyond what is normal after exertion. Causes range from lack of sleep to anemia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, depression, and chronic illnesses.

 Symptom

Hair loss

Losing 50-100 hairs per day is normal. Beyond this rate — alopecia. Causes: androgenetic, telogen (stress, postpartum, diet), areata (autoimmune), scarring.

 Symptom

Brittle nails

Brittle nails crack, peel and break easily. Causes: dehydration, contact with water/chemicals, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disorders, fungal infections, psoriasis.

 Symptom

Vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiencies are common in Romania — vitamin D (70%+ of adults), B12 (in the elderly and vegans), iron (women of childbearing age), folate, vitamin C in smokers.

Frequently asked questions

What else would you like to know?

How long do I take iron for anemia?
At least 3 months after hemoglobin returns to normal — to replenish iron stores (ferritin). Follow-up at 1-3 months.
Why does iron make me feel sick?
Ferrous sulfate frequently causes digestive discomfort. Better-tolerated alternatives: fumarate, bisglycinate, liposomal. Take with vitamin C on an empty stomach.
Can I take iron with coffee?
Space them 2 hours apart. Coffee, tea, dairy, and calcium reduce iron absorption.
Why isn't the iron working?
Causes: insufficient dose, compromised absorption (celiac disease, PPIs, H. pylori), ongoing unidentified bleeding. Medical evaluation needed.

See also

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