Looking for opinions/info on whether iron supplementation prior to and during artemisinin (or malarone, etc... any of the "oxidants") is essential?
I have read that the bugs (specifically babesia) and/or viruses feed upon iron, and then the oxidants such as mepron, malarone, art, kill the bugs by oxidizing the iron in that they have consumed.
Do I have this correct? So, do these medications work better when you have sufficient iron in your system?
My ferretin levels are extremely low, so my LLMD has been wanting me to supplement.
Now that I am supplementing, I seem to be getting worse headaches from art.
Was hoping this was a good thing and that I am killing more bugs.
Any input on this topic is much appreciated.
Thanks, VB
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I don't know the answer to your question.
My ferritin is also extremely low and I have been supplementing as well. I'm also on Mepron and Art at the time, but I've been supplementing iron even before I was on babs treatment.
Posted by bears1985 (Member # 17271) on :
Why would you take Iron supplementation? Are you anemic? Also do you take Magnesium? You would just contribute to biofilm production.
Posted by VB (Member # 16824) on :
My LLMD wants me to take iron because my ferretin (iron) blood levels are extremely low.
Additionally, per my post, is iron not essential to help destroy babesia with a medication that works by oxidation (i.e. needs the iron in order to be able to oxidize something)?
Yes, I take lots of magnesium.
Thanks for the repsonses!
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
Bears - a person is supposed to supplement iron if their ferritin levels are low. Many doctors would agree. My hematologist even suggested that I supplement because my ferritin was super low.