Home Symptoms Anemia

Anemia — what to take?

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

5 recommended OTC drugs
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OTC — no prescription

What you can take for anemia

Informativ. Nu înlocuiește sfatul medicului. Consultă medicul sau farmacistul înainte de a lua orice medicament.

Main types

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

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

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

Hemolytic, aplastic, myelodysplastic — rarer, specific.

Symptoms

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

Iron-deficiency treatment

Ferrous salts:

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

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

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

B12 deficiency treatment

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

Cause — crucial to identify

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

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

Nights, weekends, holidays

24/7 pharmacies for anemia

Anemia doesn't wait for office hours. If you need a medicine at 2 AM or on a weekend, open the map with the 24/7 filter on and find the nearest on-call pharmacy. Major cities have several round-the-clock pharmacies — the per-city pages below list them all, with address, phone and verified opening hours.

Call ahead before you leave, especially at night — on-call schedules can change and stock for some prescription items may be limited between deliveries.

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Medicine categories 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 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.

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 elderly without obvious cause (mandatory digestive investigations)

Frequently asked

Common questions

How long do I take iron for anemia?
Minimum 3 months after hemoglobin normalizes — to replenish stores (ferritin). Check at 1-3 months.
Why does iron make me feel bad?
Ferrous sulfate frequently causes digestive discomfort. Better tolerated alternatives: fumarate, bisglycinate, liposomal. Take with vitamin C on empty stomach.
Can I take iron with coffee?
With 2h distance. Coffee, tea, dairy, calcium reduce iron absorption.
Why isn't iron working?
Causes: insufficient dose, compromised absorption (celiac disease, PPI, H. pylori), continued unidentified bleeding. Medical evaluation.

See also

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