Iron Infusion: Uses, Benefits, and What to Expect

 Adequate iron is important to your body.   Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.   This is an important function.

Signs of an iron deficiency include:   feeling tired all the time, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing.

Often an iron supplement can take care of an iron deficiency.   If an iron supplement does not raise your level of iron adequately you may need an iron infusion.   An iron infusion is when iron is delivered via an intravenous line straight into the body.

People at risk for a deficiency include: those with cancers, have heavy periods, take certain medications (read side effects on medications you are taking), or are experiencing kidney failure or even pregnancy.

An infusion can quickly affect your iron levels.   After an infusion you may experience a headache, joint pain, or a metal taste in your mouth.   One treatment may not be enough.

Key Points:

  • 1If a person is anemic, and iron supplements do not work for them, they can get iron infusions.
  • 2Iron infusions involve going to a healthcare provider 2 or 3 times a week for a few weeks, each visit lasting about 15 to 30 minutes.
  • 3Most people can go right back to their daily activities after an infusion.


Iron infusions are not the right treatment for everyone who has low hemoglobin levels. However, for a person with iron deficiency who cannot take or does not respond to iron supplements, iron infusions are one option for increasing their iron levels.
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Written by HealthStatus
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our health risk assessment, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years.

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