Iron injections, also known as iron shots, are recommended for certain patients who are iron deficient. Iron-deficient patients are unable to absorb iron by consuming it normally through the stomach. Iron injections are prescribed also for cases of insufficient iron in a person’s diet (often due to veganism or vegetarianism), the small intestine’s inability to absorb iron, heavy blood loss, a sharp drop in iron levels during pregnancy, an imbalance in iron levels in the body after a blood transfusion, or in cases of iron-deficient anemia.

Iron injections are administered directly into muscle, normally into the side of the thigh or buttocks. The following benefits have been observed after iron injections are administered:

1. Reduced shortness of breath

Since iron is the main element in red-blood cells that help with the transport of oxygen throughout the body, one benefit of iron injections is that the person will experience the ease of breathing.

2. Energy boost

Patients will experience increased energy, as incidents of shortness of breath will decrease and even disappear.

3. Increased iron levels in blood panel

Iron levels in the body get topped up, after severe loss of iron.

Another form of administering iron directly is an iron infusion. Iron infusions administer an intravenous (IV) drip to supplement iron stores. Iron infusions are typically prescribed for patients who:

• Cannot ingest iron orally
• Are unable to absorb iron through the stomach
• Can’t absorb iron fast enough due to huge blood loss
• Need to increase iron levels to counter medical complications
• Have iron-deficient, or anemia

There are other considerations that prompt doctors to prescribe iron infusions over iron supplements, injections, and dietary changes. They are as follows:

• The patient has digestive tract bleeding
• A diagnosis of an inflammatory bowel disease (i.e., Crohn’s disease)
• The patient has celiac disease
• The patient has cancer
• Other medications have been prescribed to increase the production of red blood cells

Both iron injections and iron infusions are a way to increase the levels of iron in the body quickly. These methods act very fast compared to iron supplements and dietary changes. Iron injections and iron infusions are prescribed for short periods. Doses are restricted, and the periods for administering the doses are mostly not more than 5 weeks. To prolong the effects of iron injections and iron infusions, doctors may prescribe iron supplements and dietary changes.

There are different forms used in iron injections and infusions, for instance:

• Iron Dextran is a form of iron that can be injected.
• Iron Venofer contains iron sucrose, a form of mineral iron. This form of iron is used to treat patients with kidney disease.
• Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is an iron preparation that allows for large single doses to be injected over shorter periods.

It is to be noted that iron injections and iron infusions are not extremely safe procedures so they are typically administered in hospitals or by trained medical personnel only, with resuscitation equipment and trained personnel on standby.

Constant monitoring of the patients is required as there are many unwanted side effects that can manifest during these treatments, including, but are not limited to:

• Swelling of the face, arms and legs
• Nausea and abdominal cramps
• Chest pain and breathing problems
• Low blood pressure
• Skin rash or hives
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.