Among the chemical elements vital to our body, iron is far from last. It is iron that is the main element that is part of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin in the blood carries oxygen throughout all cells of the human body, ensuring the normal functioning of the body. That is why a lack of iron is extremely detrimental to health.
Low hemoglobin: how to deal with it
What specifically threatens iron deficiency in the body? There can be many reasons; let us name the main ones. Often, iron deficiency occurs in children under four years of age, as in connection with the rapid growth of the body requires more and more of this element. Improper nutrition can also be a factor causing an acute shortage of an important element. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the need for iron also grows very much, because it is necessary for the growing fetus, and subsequently for the born child. With large blood losses, hemoglobin level also drops, which can lead to very unpleasant consequences.
What threatens iron deficiency?
All of the above factors can cause diseases of the cardiovascular system, muscles, immune system, and digestive tract organs. The upper layer of the epidermis (skin), hair, nails also suffer.
Iron deficiency is especially harmful for pregnant and lactating women. To avoid the problems associated with it, you need to eat right and take
drugs containing this element. Very often, doctors recommend such popular pharmacy products as Fenyuls or Sorbifer. Which is better to take? You will find the answer to this and many other questions in this article.
Fenyuls: Description
"Fenyuls" - capsules containing 15 milligrams of iron sulfate, ascorbic acid and various auxiliary components that contribute to the absorption of the active substance. Due to the composition of the capsules, iron enters the body gradually, eventually replenishing the daily norm. The drug is used for chronic blood loss (which is why it is so popular among donors) and an acute lack of iron in the human body. In addition, the indication for intake is a deficiency of B vitamins.
Ascorbic acid, which is part of Fenyuls, eliminates the oxidation of iron sulfate when taken. Vitamins help with metabolic disorders and improve the general condition of the patient during therapy.
"Fenyuls": instructions, reviews
The dosage of the drug is one capsule once a day with a general course of treatment for a month, but the dosage may be different, in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician. Also, "Fenyuls" is used for iron deficiency in women with heavy menstruation. In this case, the drug is taken by the patient a couple of days before the critical days and a couple of days after (it is possible one day before and after with an acute shortage of iron). The drug is not recommended for use with other vitamin complexes. Also, "Fenyuls" should not be taken with drugs that increase the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug is contraindicated in children, patients suffering from hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis, as well as people with individual intolerance to the components of the drug. Reception can cause an allergic reaction to some components, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness.
The drug is dispensed in a pharmacy without a prescription. When using "Fenyulsa" urine can turn bright yellow, due to the presence of riboflavin in the composition. After reading the instructions for the drug "Fenyuls", it's time to find out how doctors and patients respond about it. Based on the opinions of doctors and patients, it can be concluded that Fenyuls is well tolerated during pregnancy (if the drug is prescribed by a specialist), fully performs its function of replenishing iron, but sometimes it causes the side effects described above. Nevertheless, many people taking this drug are ready to take them for granted, since Fenyuls really helps. Reviews of doctors regarding this drug are also mostly positive. Doctors praise Fenyuls for their quick action, good tolerance and reasonable price.
How to take the drug "Fenyuls"?
Before or after a meal? Question questions for any medicine. It is drunk either during or after a meal, but not before it. Taking the medicine before meals in no way affects the clinical effect, but it can cause stomach problems, accompanied by the side effects described above. How much is Fenyuls? The price in Russia ranges from 115 to 144 rubles for 30 capsules (which makes up the full course). If you do not need to complete a full month course, you can purchase the medicine in a package containing only ten capsules. In this case, the purchase will cost from 54 to 78 rubles. As you can see, the cost of the medication in question is quite acceptable and affordable for all segments of the population. However, before buying, in any case, you must consult a specialist and take only as directed by a doctor.
Sorbifer: Description
After reviewing the instructions for Fenyuls and reading the reviews of patients and doctors, we have some idea about it. But in order to answer the question: “Fenyuls” or “Sorbifer - which is better?” You need to consider both drugs, and then compare their pharmacological effect on the body. So, let's get to know more about such a medicine as “Sorbifer.” It is also a drug used for iron deficiency, anemia (also caused by deficiency). Also, the drug can be taken by pregnant and lactating women in order to prevent such diseases. Sorbifer is available in the form of tablets from thirty to fifty pieces per pack. the tissues are yellow, a gray core is detected on the fracture. One Sorbifer tablet contains 32 milligrams of iron sulfate, 6 milligrams of ascorbic acid and various substances that help the drug absorb. The medication has an effect that reduces the symptoms of anemia.
How to take Sorbifer?
The tablet must be swallowed whole without breaking into pieces and washed down with water. The daily intake is two tablets, they must be consumed after meals. Pregnant and lactating women are prescribed one tablet per day as a prophylactic. "Sorbifer" is taken either until the iron level in the blood is completely restored, or within 3-4 months. After this period, if the drug does not help, you must stop taking it. Thanks to the special dosage form in which Sorbifer is released, the use of the drug ensures the intake of iron in the body, which minimizes the harm caused to the stomach. The medication is contraindicated in case of allergies to the substances that make up, with other varieties of anemia, with diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, thrombosis and similar diseases, as well as children under twelve years of age.
Side effects, overdose
The main side effects of Sorbifer are associated with problems of the gastrointestinal tract in the form of constipation and diarrhea. Redness or itching, headache, tachycardia, general state of weakness may also occur. In addition, Sorbifer can contribute to kidney stones. With an overdose of the drug, all of the above effects are possible, in especially severe cases, vomiting with blood may occur. When providing first aid, the patient needs to do a gastric lavage. It is not recommended to take the drug in question with preparations containing sodium chloride, magnesium, calcium. It is not necessary to use ascorbic acid separately (it is already contained in the product, and its additional intake will cause an overdose, which is also undesirable).
"Sorbifer": price, reviews
Doctors speak of Sorbifer as a quality medicine that gradually restores the level of iron in the body. As for the reviews of pregnant women about the use of Sorbifer, they are mostly positive. Side effects are extremely rare, and the active substances of the drug quickly restore the hemoglobin level to a physiological norm. You can store the drug for up to three years at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees. The price of Sorbifer ranges from 320 to 390 rubles, depending on the region and the pharmacy chain. This medicine is dispensed in pharmacies exclusively by prescription.
What to choose?
So, Fenyuls or Sorbifer? What's better? The answer to this question is purely individual for each person. In Sorbifer, the iron content is almost three times greater than in Fenyuls. From this we can conclude that with acute iron deficiency, the Sorbifer drug will be more effective. In case of latent iron deficiency, you should take "Fenyuls", as it eliminates the overdose of the main active substance and is better absorbed by the body. Also, in the prevention of iron deficiency, it is recommended to take exactly "Fenyuls". As for the side effects, they are observed only in rare cases when taking both drugs, which is confirmed by the many reviews of patients and doctors. The composition of both drugs is almost identical. It is based on iron sulfate and ascorbic acid. The difference is only in the proportions and amount of excipients. The Fenyulsa course is shorter and amounts to one month, against three to four months of mandatory intake of Sorbifer. "Fenyuls" affects the body more quickly than its competitor, but it is less effective in severe forms of anemia. The average cost of Fenyuls is 125 rubles, for Sorbifer the price is higher - 350 rubles. In addition, it should be borne in mind that with prolonged treatment, you will have to buy a second medication more than once. Both drugs are well tolerated during pregnancy and lactation, are contraindicated in children and are not recommended for people with kidney disease. "Sorbifer" is not absorbed in the stomach, but in the duodenum, which causes less harm to the stomach.
Conclusion
Having examined both drugs, we can conclude that both of them effectively help restore hemoglobin levels to normal. Which of these drugs should be taken depends solely on the individual characteristics of the person and his reaction to the various ingredients of the drugs in question. Before making a choice, it is recommended that you first consult with a specialist. However, it is safe to say that for preventive purposes it is best to take "Fenyuls", its price is also more acceptable. We hope that our article was useful to you, and answered the question: "Fenyuls" or "Sorbifer" - which is better to take in some iron deficiency conditions. "