A number of our gastric bypass patients have been telling us that our recommended iron tablets can be difficult to get.  Unfortunately it is difficult to find one particular iron tablet that is routinely stocked by pharmacies.  If you have difficulty obtaining Niferex from you pharmacy we suggest one of these two options:

1. Ask your pharmacist for an over the counter iron fumarate or iron gluconate.  These are better absorbed that iron sulphate.
   -OR-
2. Take two pre-natal multivitamins to replace both the iron tablet and the multivitamin.  Our recommended brand is pre-natal rx.  Please note that this recommendation is also suitable for men and it is still important to take the pre-natal multivitamin at a different time from the calcium tablets.

As a quick summary our recommendations for gastric bypass patients are now:

1. Pre-natal Rx multivitamin, two tablets, once daily
   -OR-
2. Centrum chewable multivitamin, one tablet, once daily AND a separate iron tablet (Niferex, iron fumarate, iron gluconate) once daily
3. Calcium citrate + vitamin D tablets, 1000 milligrams, twice daily – take this at a different time to the multivitamin and iron
4. Vitamin B12 sublingual (taken under the tongue) dots 1000 micrograms, once daily
5. Vitamin D 50 000 units, once a week – this is prescription only

Our vitamin recommendations for lap band patients are:

1. Chewable or liquid multivitamin (we recommend centrum chewable)
2. For post-menopausal women calcium citrate + vitamin D tablets, 1000 milligrams, twice daily – take this at a different time to the multivitamin
3. For residents of the sunny pacific northwest vitamin D 50 000 units, once a week – this is prescription only

And for sleeve gastrectomy patients we recommend:

1. Chewable or liquid multivitamin (we recommend centrum chewable)
2. Vitamin B12 sublingual (taken under the tongue) dots 1000 micrograms, once daily
3. For post-menopausal women calcium citrate + vitamin D tablets, 1000 milligrams, twice daily – take this at a different time to the multivitamin
4. For residents of the sunny pacific northwest vitamin D 50 000 units, once a week – this is prescription only