Why do I feel tired all the time?
Constant tiredness can have many causes, from poor sleep and stress to low iron, low B12, thyroid problems or medicines. Most people who ask us about an iron or B12 drip have felt tired for weeks or months, and that deserves a real answer. But tiredness is one of the least specific symptoms in medicine. It can come from:
- Too little sleep, shift work, stress or a new baby.
- Low iron or anaemia, for example from heavy periods or slow blood loss from the gut.
- Low vitamin B12 or folate.
- An underactive thyroid, diabetes, or kidney or liver problems.
- Infections, including the weeks after a bad flu or COVID.
- Low mood or depression.
- Side effects of medicines.
A vitamin drip cannot tell these apart. If the real cause is a thyroid problem or blood loss, a drip may make you feel a little better for a day and delay the diagnosis you actually need.
How is iron deficiency diagnosed?
Iron deficiency is diagnosed with blood tests: your doctor usually checks a full blood count and ferritin (the body’s iron store), and sometimes other iron markers, depending on your situation. It is common, especially in women with heavy periods, in pregnancy, in vegetarians and in people with some gut conditions.
A low result is the start, not the end. A doctor also needs to find out why iron is low. In adults, especially men and women after menopause, that can mean looking for blood loss from the stomach or bowel. This is the job of a family doctor or an internal medicine specialist, not of a drip service.
Most people with low iron are treated first with iron tablets or liquid. Intravenous iron is used in specific cases, for example when tablets do not work, are not tolerated, or the deficiency needs faster correction. It is a prescribed treatment.
Why is IV iron not given at home?
IV iron should be given in a clinic or hospital, so Derman does not offer it at home, in hotels or as a wellness drip. There are three reasons.
- Rarely, IV iron can cause a serious allergic reaction. Guidelines recommend giving it where staff and equipment to manage such a reaction are ready, with the patient observed afterwards.
- The dose depends on your weight, your blood results and the product used. It should be planned by the doctor who is treating your deficiency.
- Too much iron is harmful. Iron that the body does not need is stored and is hard to remove. Giving iron “just in case” is not safe.
If your doctor has diagnosed iron deficiency and recommends IV iron, ask them where it will be given. In Istanbul this is done in hospitals and clinics.
Do you need a blood test before B12 treatment?
Yes. Low B12 is also confirmed with a blood test before treatment; sometimes the doctor adds other tests to be sure. Vitamin B12 is needed for blood cells and nerves, and low levels can cause tiredness, a sore tongue, pale skin, and tingling or numbness in the hands and feet.
There is one exception. If a doctor suspects B12 deficiency with nerve symptoms (numbness, tingling, unsteady walking, memory problems) or severe anaemia, they take the blood sample and often start treatment the same day, without waiting for the result. That is a decision for a doctor who examines you in a clinic or hospital, so see one promptly.
Common reasons for low B12 include a vegan diet without supplements, problems with absorption in the stomach or gut, earlier stomach surgery, and long-term use of some medicines, such as metformin or stomach acid reducers. Older people are more often affected.
When B12 is truly low, treatment is prescribed by your doctor. It may be tablets or a course of injections, depending on the cause. People with absorption problems often need injections for a long time, sometimes for life, so the plan matters more than a single dose.
Can a B12 drip treat B12 deficiency?
No. Our drips with B12 are not a treatment for a diagnosed deficiency. B vitamins, including B12, are in the Energy Boost, Jet Lag Reset and Myers’ Classic drips, and a B12 injection is available as an add-on. Prices are on the treatments page.
If your blood test shows low B12, your own doctor should set the treatment and follow it up. One drip at a hotel does not replace that plan. For people whose B12 is normal, the evidence that extra B12 gives more energy is limited. We tell you that honestly, and the doctor may suggest that you do not need a drip at all.
If you already have recent blood results, send them with your booking. They help our doctor decide whether a drip makes sense and whether something else should be checked first.
Who should not have an IV drip?
An IV drip is not suitable during pregnancy without your own doctor’s OK, with kidney or heart failure, with some medicines, with a known allergy or with acute symptoms. Whatever is in the bag, a drip is a medical procedure, and our doctor will decline or postpone it in these cases:
- Pregnancy, unless your own doctor approves it.
- Kidney failure or heart failure.
- Some medicines, including some blood thinners, diuretics, and heart or kidney medicines.
- A known allergy to any ingredient.
- Acute symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
You can read more in who should not have an IV drip and on our safety page.
When is tiredness an emergency?
Tiredness with shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, black stool or heavy bleeding needs medical care the same day. Go to a hospital emergency department or call 112 if you have:
- Shortness of breath at rest, or chest pain.
- Fainting, or feeling that you are about to faint.
- Black, tarry stool, blood in your stool or vomit, or very heavy bleeding.
- Very pale skin together with a racing heartbeat.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness that is getting worse, or new confusion.
For tiredness without these signs, book an appointment with a family doctor or an internal medicine clinic and ask for blood tests.
What does Derman do when you ask for an iron or B12 drip?
When you ask Derman for an “iron drip” or a “B12 drip”, the doctor first asks how long you have felt this way, whether you have had blood tests, which medicines you take, and whether you have symptoms that need a hospital. Often the honest answer is: get a blood test first. Sometimes a drip is reasonable for comfort after the doctor’s check, and a licensed nurse gives it at your home or hotel, for example in Nişantaşı or Kozyatağı.
If you want to ask before booking, send us a message on WhatsApp. A doctor reads every booking first.
