Drugs to increase hemoglobin in the blood: a review of drugs

How do the drugs work?

Hemoglobin is a protein synthesized in the body of warm-blooded animals. It is part of the molecules of red blood cells . Its main task is to transport oxygen from the lungs to all tissues of the body.

The hemoglobin molecule contains an iron atom, which gives blood its red color.

Iron containing

Iron preparations contain this trace element in the form of salts (gluconates, sulfates, fumarates, etc.) or hydroxide polymaltose complex. It is used in medicines in a di- or trivalent state.

Divalent iron has greater biological activity. Entering the stomach in the form of tablets, it breaks down into ions, and then, together with digested food, into the duodenum, where it is absorbed into the blood, enriching it with iron .

The nuance when taking tablets is that drugs of this type are active only in an acidic environment, while in the duodenum it is alkaline. Therefore, most iron-containing drugs contain ascorbic or succinic acid. In some cases, it is recommended to take the tablets with water acidified with hydrochloric acid.

When taking the tablets, swallow them whole without chewing, since saliva deactivates iron ions, depriving it of its biological activity.

B9 and B12

produces hemoglobin , connecting the liver and spleen when exhausted. Therefore, to increase its concentration in the blood, folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 are also used. They stimulate the bone marrow and kidneys to synthesize hemoglobin and erythropoietin (the hormone responsible for the constant concentration of red blood cells in the blood).

Ask your question to clinical laboratory diagnostics doctor Anna Poniaeva. Graduated from the Nizhny Novgorod Medical Academy (2007-2014) and Residency in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (2014-2016).Ask a question>>

Blood products

These drugs also stimulate hematopoiesis and also improve the absorption of iron in the duodenum.

Increase in hemoglobin

There are several ways to increase hemoglobin levels in the blood - prescribing a special diet, taking medications and taking dietary supplements. The use of homeopathy does not make sense, since such medicines do not cope well with deficiency.

It should be understood that anemia can be caused by various reasons, so diagnosis should be carried out by an experienced doctor. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the disease.

The general practitioner must not only determine the cause of the disease, but also select the optimal medicine to treat the disease, and self-medication can be dangerous.

Below we will learn how to quickly increase hemoglobin in the blood using tablets and products.

Boosting Products

To normalize hemoglobin levels, dietary therapy may be prescribed. A person should exclude from his diet foods such as fatty meats, alcoholic beverages, too sour or spicy foods, pickles, canned food, and so on. You need to give up tobacco or replace it with nicotine chewing gum.

It is advisable to include the following foods in your diet that increase hemoglobin:

• Pomegranate juice. This juice contains iron, vitamins, beneficial microelements, and folic acid. Pomegranate contains folacin, which is a naturally occurring form of folic acid. This product is most often used to support the body when there is a low level of hemoglobin in the blood, since to replenish the balance of all essential substances it is enough to drink 100-200 ml of juice per day, which is not only useful, but also quite cheap.
• Beef liver. This product contains a large amount of iron and B vitamins. Properly prepared liver is well absorbed by the body and is suitable for both the treatment of anemia and for prevention. Most often, liver is prescribed to children and during pregnancy as a preventive food product. The main disadvantage is that it is not recommended to consume liver in old age.

• Buckwheat. This product contains a lot of vitamins and microelements, so it is widely used as a medicine to increase hemoglobin. Buckwheat is a good source of folic acid. This product is usually prescribed for the treatment of anemia in combination with beef liver. The main disadvantage is that you need to eat at least 300-400 g of buckwheat porridge per day, so quite often this product is prescribed in combination with medications so that a person can periodically consume other porridges.
• Apples. This fruit is a good source of folic acid and iron. To restore the balance of microelements, you need to eat 3-5 medium-sized apples per day. You can make juice from apples (the optimal dosage is 200-300 g of juice per day). The main disadvantage of apples is the fact that the concentration of vitamins in them depends on the season, and winter apples contain quite little folic acid and iron, so in winter this product must be replaced with something else.
• Beet. This vegetable contains folic acid, as well as iron and B vitamins. It can be eaten either boiled or raw. You can use beets to make salad, borscht and vegetable caviar. After cooking, it is advisable to keep the beets in the refrigerator for 1 hour. The main disadvantage of beets is that they cannot be consumed by people with gastritis, stomach diseases and cholecystitis.

Classification of medications by mode of action

There are two main classifications of medications based on their mode of action:

• Iron-based preparations. Usually available in liquid form to give injections to increase hemoglobin. The fact is that iron is poorly absorbed in the form of tablets, so it is much more effective to introduce iron into the body directly with an injection. There are tablets with an extra-strong shell, which improves their bioavailability, but such drugs are quite rare.
• Preparations based on vitamins and folic acid. Such medications are usually available in the form of tablets and syrups. Vitamins and folic acid have good bioavailability, so these medications can be taken in tablet form.

Medications that give quick results

Let's now find out how to increase hemoglobin in the blood. The list of medications to increase hemoglobin looks like this:

• Totema. Available in the form of tablets and solution for injection. It treats iron deficiency anemia well, since the medicine contains a large amount of iron. It has virtually no side effects, but is contraindicated in case of hypersensitivity to some components of the drug.
• Sorbifer Durules. Available in tablet form. It is a complex preparation that includes vitamins, microelements and folic acid. It has no contraindications or side effects, so the drug is usually prescribed in childhood and adolescence.
• Hemopher. Another good medicine in tablets. The medicine contains iron, folic acid and many other useful components. It has a minimal number of side effects and is usually used to treat children.
• Ferroplex. Available in the form of syrup and tablets. The drug contains an iron compound, which, when it enters the body, very quickly restores the deficiency of this microelement. Most often, the drug is taken during pregnancy as a therapeutic or preventive medication. Has few contraindications.
• Maltofer. The drug contains ferric iron, so the medicine is well suited for people who cannot take drugs based on ferrous iron due to allergies. Has no contraindications.
• Monofer. Available in the form of liquid for injections. Contains iron. Has no contraindications. In case of an overdose, pain in the abdominal area may occur.
• Ferrum Lek. Available in the form of a solution in ampoules for injection. Contains ferric iron, so the drug can be used in case of allergy to ferrous iron. Usually prescribed during pregnancy and childhood. Has no contraindications.

Available medications that increase hemoglobin

In some cases, the use of dietary supplements, which can be purchased at any pharmacy at a low price, may be justified:

1. "Iron Plus". It is a complex of natural vitamins and microelements. The active substance capsule contains iron, copper, zinc, B vitamins, and ascorbic acid. Most microelements are included in a modified version, which increases their bioavailability.
2. "Nutrimax". The medicine contains trivalent iron, as well as a large amount of minerals and vitamins. The drug is completely safe and well absorbed by the body. It is usually prescribed to children and women during pregnancy.
3. "Feroglobin B12." The medicine contains vitamin B12, as well as iron-containing substances and folic acid. The medicine is completely natural and is well absorbed by the body. The drug can be taken by young children and women during pregnancy.

Indications

Drugs to increase hemoglobin are prescribed to women in two cases :

• in the treatment of anemia, to raise hemoglobin to the desired level;
• to prevent this disease (pregnancy, intense physical activity, stress).

They increase hemoglobin in women with medications when this cannot be done through diet, as well as when:

• large blood losses (heavy menstruation, childbirth, etc.);
• digestive problems;
• chronic iron deficiency anemia.

It is recommended to take all medications only as prescribed by a doctor, strictly following the dosage.

Features of choosing medications

At the beginning of therapy with iron preparations, the choice should be made in favor of trivalent agents intended for oral administration. Medicines in this category are highly effective combined with ease of administration. There is no need to strictly observe the time intervals between taking pills and food, as is the case with divalent drugs.

Bivalent iron preparations are obsolete, but have a lower cost. Therefore, their use is justified when the patient’s financial security is low. The drugs are also prescribed to people with high acidity of gastric juice. Concentrated hydrochloric acid disrupts the absorption of ferric iron, so products based on it are contraindicated for such patients.

Parenteral forms are prescribed only when absorption of drugs from the gastrointestinal tract is impossible (inflammatory diseases, removal of part of the stomach or intestines). In this case, forms are used for insertion into the buttock. Intravenous types of iron-containing drugs are prescribed strictly according to indications, with a critical decrease in hemoglobin and iron in the blood plasma. This is often combined with blood transfusion (blood transfusion).

Advantages and disadvantages

All iron preparations are divided according to the method of application into :

• oral (tablets, syrups, capsules);
• parenteral (intravenous injections).

Medicines intended for oral administration must be taken for a long time (3-6 months), they have a large number of side effects (nausea, constipation, darkening of the enamel).
The advantage is that an overdose is unlikely, hemoglobin rises slowly (3 months), and then gradually accumulates in the liver (another 3 months).

Injections are recommended for gastrointestinal diseases when the absorption of iron in the intestines is impossible. The advantage is the rapid normalization of iron-containing hormone. Flaws:

• painful lumps at the injection site;
• allergic reactions;
• high probability of overdose.

Based on the type of ferrous salts, medications are divided into:

• divalent iron salts - quickly dissolve, easily absorbed (up to 40%), quickly bring hemoglobin to normal, but are poorly tolerated (lack of appetite, dizziness, diarrhea or constipation, darkening of tooth enamel).
• Ferric iron salts are less absorbed (10%), they increase hemoglobin very slowly, but there are much fewer side effects.
• Hydroxide polymaltose complexes are absorbed quite well in the intestines and do not create side effects, including darkening of tooth enamel. But with low hemoglobin they are useless. They are used to prevent anemia during pregnancy.

Considering all these factors, it is worth once again warning against self-use of iron supplements, without the prescription of a professional. Only he can choose the correct form of the medicine and its dosage.

Differences between pediatric and adult medications

Iron deficiency anemia in adults and children is treated using the same medications. There are differences in dosage. The amount of active substance for the treatment of pediatric patients is reduced by three times compared to adult therapeutic regimens. In addition, pediatricians try to use dosage forms that are convenient for children (syrups, chewable tablets).

Therapy with iron supplements is today the main method of treating iron deficiency anemia. In the vast majority of cases, replenishing iron deficiency in combination with eliminating pathways of nutrient loss leads to complete recovery of the patient within several months. However, improper use of drugs can cause severe intoxication and iatrogenic diseases. Therefore, independent use of iron tablets is unacceptable. Therapy should be prescribed by a doctor with the necessary knowledge and skills. Self-medication is unacceptable.

When should I see a doctor?

Low hemoglobin in women manifests itself with the following main symptoms :

• shortness of breath during habitual physical activity;
• dizziness with a sudden change in body position;
• pallor of the mucous membranes;
• sensitivity to cold;
• Constantly cold hands and feet.

Taste preferences may also change and digestive problems may begin (dyspepsia, diarrhea, flatulence).
The most serious symptom is shortness of breath. Therefore, immediately after its appearance, especially after severe blood loss or stress, it is necessary to seek the help of a specialist.

Review of drugs

, short- and long-acting iron-containing agents , vitamins and their complexes, and blood products are used.

Preparations with iron

Long-acting medications include:

Irovit is a combination medicine. The composition includes: ferrous fumarate, vitamin B12, folic acid and lysine in the form of hydrochloride, which promotes the synthesis of proteins in the body. For adults it is available in the form of capsules of 15 pcs. packaged. 1 capsule contains 100 mg of iron.

Contraindicated in diseases accompanied by the accumulation of iron in tissues.

Price — 379 rub.

Ferrum-lek is a brown transparent solution for intramuscular and intravenous injections. Produced in ampoules of 1 ml (50 mg iron), 2 ml (100 mg). The composition includes ferric hydroxide polyisomaltose. This macromolecular complex is stable, does not immediately disintegrate into ions, gradually releasing iron for the synthesis of hemoglobin.

Iron supplements for low hemoglobin

Patients with iron deficiency anemia should receive at least 20-30 mg of the missing nutrient per day. It is almost impossible to provide such an amount of the substance through food (especially against the background of impaired absorption from the gastrointestinal tract), so the component is administered in the form of medicines. If the intestines and stomach are functioning normally, iron supplements can be taken by mouth (orally), in combination with vitamin C or folic acid. If absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is impaired, the drugs are administered intramuscularly. Medicines may contain divalent or trivalent iron.

Other ways to increase a woman's hemoglobin

Low hemoglobin levels can be prevented and cured with proper nutrition and traditional medicine recipes.

Nutrition

The diet of anemic women must include foods high in iron. These include primarily veal, 100 g of which can supply 40% of the daily iron requirement. It is also advisable to include in your diet:

• beef liver;
• walnuts;
• beets;
• grenades;
• spinach.

To absorb iron, foods high in ascorbic acid are needed.
These include:

• citrus;
• fresh currants, strawberries and cranberries;
• White cabbage.

You can also use traditional methods to quickly normalize hemoglobin.

Recipes

1. Take equal quantities of dried apricots, prunes, raisins and pitted dates. Pass through a meat grinder. Add one chopped lemon for every 200 g of mixture. Take 10 g three times a day.
2. Grind a glass of peeled walnuts, 100 g of dark honey and lemon in a blender. Take 10 g in the morning and evening 30 minutes before. before the meal.
3. Boil 100 g of fresh beets in a mixture of 100 ml of water and 200 ml of milk for 30 minutes. Strain and drink three days in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Traditional recipes are used to treat for two months.
Then they take a break for 3 weeks and repeat the treatment again.

Prevention

For the best absorption of iron and maintaining normal hemoglobin levels in the blood, every woman needs:

• quit smoking and alcohol;
• reduce consumption of coffee, tea and carbonated drinks;
• monitor your emotional state, avoiding nervous tension;
• sleep at least 8 hours a day;
• do not neglect physical activity.

It is advisable to increase hemoglobin if it decreases by adjusting the diet and giving up bad habits.
If this does not work, then you need to contact a specialist.

Norm

In a healthy person, the hemoglobin concentration ranges from 130 to 160 g/l (for men) and from 120 to 150 g/l (for women). In childhood, a slight deviation from normal indicators is possible, which is associated with various features of the development of the child’s body.

Please note that lifestyle, profession and age only slightly affect the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood (for example, in old age the concentration on average drops by only 3-8 points, which is a minor deviation from the norm).

Normal hemoglobin levels for men and women

Normal hemoglobin levels for men and women differ slightly. However, in women during pregnancy, the concentration of this protein drops to an average of 110-155 g/l, but after childbirth, the hemoglobin concentration returns to normal over time. To find out the hemoglobin norm for women and men, use this table:

The danger of deviations from normal values

With a lack of hemoglobin in the blood, anemia can develop. This disorder is characterized by the following symptoms - weakness, nausea, dizziness, periodic headaches, large blood loss in case of a cut, and so on. In case of severe anemia, mental and neurological disorders may appear - fainting, depression, sleep problems.

A deficiency may appear for the following reasons:

• Bone marrow dysfunction. This disorder usually occurs due to prolonged intoxication and/or poor environment. Treatment of such anemia should be aimed primarily at identifying and eliminating the factors that led to disruption of the bone marrow.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency. This blood disease usually occurs due to poor diet. For treatment, it is necessary to adjust your diet and lifestyle. As an auxiliary treatment, medications containing B vitamins may be prescribed.
• Iron deficiency. Appears during pregnancy, as well as due to poor nutrition. In the first case, drugs and products that replenish the deficiency are prescribed for treatment. In the second case, for recovery you need to change your diet.
• Lack of folic acid. It occurs due to poor nutrition and poor environment, which can negatively affect the absorption of folic acid. Treatment methods include the use of medications, changing diet and moving to another city with a more favorable environment.