Proferrin ??

I looked it up at Well.ca and there were tons of products- please help the helpless- lol

Not sure exactly what type of info you are looking for.  But you can get the Proferrin at costco.. here is the actual website for Proferrin.. http://www.proferrin.ca/

 Proferrin isn't available on Well.ca as far as I know.  I get it at Costco which has the cheapest price to be found so far.  you can look up more info about it at www.proferrin.ca

 oops.. posted twice under my mom's OH account (her posts have to be moderated since she's a new member)  They will appear shortly, but I said that proferrin isn't available on well.ca, however you can get it at Costco.  We have found that Costco was the most cost effective so far at $17 a bottle.  

Hi,
Hopefully some one can book mark this so I do not have to keep posting the info once a month or so. . .I am not technically minded enough to do so, if someone can enlighten me I would so love just to say here's the link.  I don't want to sound nasty, but I know I have answered this question several times before.

In terms of credentials. I am a registered nurse working for the Province of Ontario's blood conservation program (aka ONTraC)

There are three basic types of iron supplements.  Iron Salts (Ferrous Sulphate, Ferrous Gluconate and Ferrous Fumerate "palafer"); Heme Irons (proferrin) and Poly Saccharide Iron (FeraMAX and Triferrex).

Iron Salts are absorbed high in the digestive system (stomach and first section of the intestine) the are affected by what you eat and drink.  Something rich in vitamin C (citrus juice, bell peppers, strawverry cantalope) will help increase the amount that is absorbed.  Foods high in Oxalates (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate), milk products, H2 and Proton Pump inhibitors, and OTC meds like MAALOX block the absorption of Iron Salts.  These irons are on the Ontario Drug Benefits list and are the most frequently prescribed iron supplements.  I personally do not like them for Bariatric Patients because of malabsorption issues and the iritation they can cause the digestive tract (heart burn, constipation).  If you are on these take them on an empty stomach (1 hour before you eat or two hours after, I prefer two hours after as there will still be something on your stomach.  Do not take them with milk, coffee, tea, maalox etc as this will block its absorption.  I suggest my patients take them with a swallow of prune juice if you can tolerate the sugar load as it is rich in iron and acts as a natural laxative.

Heme Irons, and Poly saccharide irons are digested and absorbed lower in the digestive tract.  Because of this they do not cause as much problems with the digestive system.  Nor do you have to worry about taking them on an empty stomach, avoiding dairy, tea, coffee, cola etc.  They are not affected by H2 Inhibitors or Proton Pump inhibitors or even Maalox for that matter.  Vitamin C does not increase its absorption.  Some extended health plans will cover proferrin (a heme iron), but I am not aware of any extended health plan that will cover FeraMAX as it is a dietary supplement and does not have a "DIN" number.  I do not have much information about Triferrex except knowing its out there.

Proferrin is available OTC at most drug stores and is least expensive at Costco.  FeraMAX usually has to be ordered in by most drug stores direct from the manufacturer, Walmart is ussually the most cooperative with this.  Triferrex is OTC and most pharmacies and readily available.

I hope this is helpful.

Can someone please tell me how to hyper link this so I do not have to write it out again.  I really don't mind but feel like a broken record.

Thanks

The best way is to make a bookmark of this discussion.  Then you can go to it and link it for anyone else who asks.  Here's how:

1) when you're in this thread, click on bookmarks up at the top right of the page.
2) click Add Bookmark
3) you can rename it so you recognize it and click save.  Then close that.

Next time you want to link it for someone:
1) go to bookmarks and scroll down to find the one you want
2) click on it to go to the page
3) highlight the website URL from the URL box and click Edit - Copy
4) create a reply to the post and click Edit-Paste
5) click on the little hyperlink icon at the top of the text box (looks like a world with a paper clip in front of it)
6) click on the box after http:// and Edit - Paste the URL in there too.  Click ok

The link you added to your response should now be a hyperlink and people can go to this post and read what you wrote.

Hope that helps!

Thanks Erica

Hi Leona,

I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to impose on your RN credentials for a moment.

On Monday I was told that my bloodwork from 6 months ago showed that my iron is low (hmmm, why they waited 6 months to tell me is beyong my understanding, but I digress. . .) And before you ask,  I forgot to ask just how low. Anyway, I was told to take 300 mg of Ferrous Gluconate. Because I have problems with constipation, I decided to run to Costco & get Proferrin. But the Proferrin tablets only have 11 mg of heme iron. I suspect that 11 mg of heme iron may be equivalent to 300 mg of ferrous gluconate, but I don't know. I'm waiting to get the results of my new bloodwork from Monday. At that time, I'll take note of my current iron levels & ask the Dietician how many heme iron tablets I should take. In the meantime, I'm taking 1/day. Does that sound right?

And thank you for the tip on potentially getting heme iron covered by my employer's medical plan. I'll give that a try. I woudn't have thought of it.

Take care,

Andrea

I just PM'd you about this.

I would like to know the answer to that one too.
Thanks
L.