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 you can 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, consult 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.

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Medicines for anemia

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for anemia

Open the interactive map and grant location permission — you'll immediately see pharmacies sorted by distance, each with its opening hours and a one-tap route in Google Maps. If it's night or a weekend, switch on the 24/7 filter to keep only the on-call ones. For anemia most of the listed remedies are over the counter, so you can walk in without a prescription, but check stock and prices on the comparator page first to avoid wasted trips.

If you have a preferred active ingredient (paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.), search it in the comparator before you leave — you'll see which chain has it cheapest near you and whether it's in stock. For chronic prescriptions, save your favourite pharmacy in the app and turn on hours notifications — it saves unnecessary trips, especially when treatment for anemia runs over weeks.

See also

Related symptoms and conditions

Symptom

Oboseală

Oboseala e lipsă persistentă de energie, peste ce e normal după efort. Cauzele variază de la lipsă de somn la anemie, hipotiroidie, diabet, depresie, boli cronice.

 Symptom

Căderea părului

Pierderea a 50-100 fire de păr pe zi e normală. Peste această rată — alopecie. Cauze: androgenică, telogenă (stres, postpartum, dietă), areata (autoimună), cicatricială.

 Symptom

Unghii fragile

Unghiile fragile se sparg, se descuamează, se rup ușor. Cauze: deshidratare, contact cu apă/chimicale, deficite nutritive, afecțiuni tiroidiene, micoze, psoriazis.

 Symptom

Carență de vitamine

Carențele vitaminice sunt frecvente în România — vitamina D (70%+ adulți), B12 (la vârstnici și vegani), fier (femei de vârstă fertilă), folat, vitamina C la fumători.

Frequently asked

What else do you want 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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