Home Symptoms Vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiency — what to take?

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.

Also known as: vitamin deficit lack of vitamins avitaminosis
6 recommended OTC drugs
8,260 pharmacies available

In short: Vitamin deficiencies are common in Romania: vitamin D is lacking in over 70% of adults, while B12, iron or folic acid deficiency frequently appears in the elderly, vegetarians and women of childbearing age. These deficits are usually addressed with OTC supplements such as vitamin D3, B12, iron, folic acid, magnesium or multivitamins. On HartaFarmacii you can compare the price of these options across the major pharmacies (Dr. Max, Tei, Catena, HelpNet), with prices updated daily. This information is for guidance only and does not replace medical advice; see a doctor if signs of severe anaemia appear, such as marked fatigue or pallor.

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

OTC — no prescription

What you can take for vitamin deficiency

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:

  • Severe anemia (hemoglobin <8)
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Cognitive/memory disturbances
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Suspected malabsorption syndrome
  • Children with growth retardation

Common deficiencies

Vitamin D — muscle pain, fatigue, frequent infections, depression. Dose: 1000-4000 IU/day. Testing 25-OH-D.

Vitamin B12 — fatigue, macrocytic anemia, paresthesias, cognitive disturbances. Especially vegans, the elderly, patients on metformin, chronic PPI use. Dose: 500-1000 mcg/day.

Iron — fatigue, pallor, brittle nails, hair loss. Especially women with heavy menstrual periods. Dose: 60-100 mg elemental iron/day + vitamin C.

Folate (B9) — anemia, fatigue. Essential during pregnancy (prevention of neural tube defects). 400-800 mcg/day.

Vitamin C — bleeding gums, fatigue, slow healing. 200-1000 mg/day.

Magnesium — cramps, insomnia, anxiety, palpitations. 300-400 mg/day.

Zinc — reduced immunity, hair loss, acne, loss of taste. 15-30 mg/day.

Iodine — hypothyroidism, goiter. Romania fortifies salt — rarely encountered.

Diagnosis

Targeted tests: complete blood count, ferritin, 25-OH-D, B12, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, TSH. Do not test at random — follow specific symptoms.

Multivitamins — friend or foe?

Generic multivitamins are cheap and offer relative safety against multiple minor deficits. BUT: they do not compensate for significant deficits (e.g., iron-deficiency anemia needs therapeutic iron doses, not 10 mg from a multi). They are not a substitute for diet.

Diet for prevention

  • Fatty fish 2-3x/week (D, omega-3).
  • Green vegetables (folate, iron, magnesium).
  • Moderate red meat, eggs, fermented dairy (B12, iron).
  • Fruit/citrus (C).
  • Nuts, seeds (zinc, magnesium, vitamin E).
  • Whole grains.

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

Medicines compared

Medicines used for vitamin deficiency

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 vitamin deficiency

Step by step

How to find a pharmacy fast for vitamin deficiency

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 vitamin deficiency 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 vitamin deficiency 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

Imunitate scăzută

Imunitatea scăzută = susceptibilitate crescută la infecții. Cauze: stres cronic, lipsa somnului, deficite nutritive, boli cronice, medicamente imunosupresoare, vârstă.

 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.

 Condition

Osteoporoză

Osteoporoza = scăderea densității și calității osoase, cu fragilitate și risc de fracturi (șold, coloană, antebraț). Afectează 30% dintre femeile postmenopauzale și 15% dintre bărbați peste 60.

 Condition

Hipotiroidism

Hipotiroidismul = deficit de hormoni tiroidieni. Cauza principală — tiroidita autoimună Hashimoto. Simptome: oboseală, îngrășare, constipație, piele uscată, depresie, bradicardie.

Frequently asked

What else do you want to know?

Which multivitamin should I choose?
It depends on your profile. For a healthy adult — any reputable multi-brand with moderate doses (Centrum, Supradyn, Vitrum). For specific deficits — targeted supplements.
How do I know if I have a deficiency?
Blood tests. The symptoms are nonspecific (fatigue, hair loss). Do not supplement without a diagnosis — risk of excess (fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K can be toxic).
Does vitamin C prevent colds?
It does not prevent them, but with regular supplementation it reduces duration by ~10% and symptoms. Doses above 1-2g/day bring no additional benefits.
Why do I have a vitamin D deficiency in Romania?
High latitude (reduced cutaneous synthesis in autumn-winter), low time spent outdoors, sun protection, age. Supplementation from October to April is recommended.

See also

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