Iron Infusions in Kelowna, BC

No referral is required. You can self-refer by booking a virtual assessment call with one of our naturopathic doctors at Ivy Health Clinic. We review your recent lab work (within the past 3 months) and determine if an infusion is appropriate. If you do not have recent labs, we can provide a requisition. Your family doctor is also welcome to send a referral by fax to 250-980-3770 or by email to hello@ivyhealthclinic.com.

No. You do not need to be anemic to benefit from an iron infusion. Iron deficiency can cause fatigue, brain fog, hair thinning, and breathlessness while your hemoglobin still reads normal, which is why ferritin matters. If your ferritin is low and you have symptoms, an infusion can be appropriate even with a normal CBC. A virtual assessment confirms whether it fits your situation.

Iron infusions are generally considered when ferritin falls below 50 μg/L and you have symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or hair thinning. Ferritin below 30 μg/L is widely considered iron deficient, and 30 to 50 with symptoms is often still low enough to treat. You do not need to be anemic to qualify. Because ferritin can read falsely high with inflammation, we read it alongside a full iron panel and how you feel, not one number in isolation. That assessment happens on your virtual call.

An iron infusion may be the better option if your ferritin is below 50 μg/L with significant symptoms, you cannot tolerate oral iron, or you need faster results. Oral iron is reasonable for milder deficiency when you tolerate it and accept a slower timeline of several months. Our naturopathic doctors weigh your ferritin, symptoms, and root cause together to recommend the right approach. For a deeper breakdown, read iron infusions vs. iron supplements.

Many patients need only a single iron infusion, because the formulation typically used (Monoferric) can deliver a full replacement dose in one visit. Some people need a second infusion, depending on how depleted their iron stores are. Your naturopathic doctor reviews your ferritin and symptoms to decide how many sessions are appropriate, then rechecks your labs afterward to confirm your levels have recovered.

Most people notice improvements in energy, breathlessness, or brain fog within two to four weeks of an iron infusion. Your iron stores take longer to fully rebuild, often eight to twelve weeks, which is why we recheck your ferritin after treatment. How quickly you respond depends on how depleted you were to start and whether the underlying cause, such as heavy periods, has been addressed.

After a successful iron infusion, restored iron stores often last several months, commonly six months or longer, when there is no ongoing source of loss. If the underlying cause continues, such as heavy periods or poor absorption, your levels can drop again. That is why we look for the root cause rather than just topping you up, and we recheck your ferritin after treatment to plan from there.

The infusion itself takes about 60 to 90 minutes, followed by a short observation period. Most patients plan for one to two hours at the clinic in total, including check-in and the consent review. A healthcare provider monitors you throughout. Because the iron goes directly into your bloodstream, there is no recovery time, and most people head back to their day afterward.

The most common side effect is a mild flu-like feeling (headache, fatigue, body aches) in the first 1 to 3 days. This is sometimes called "the iron flu" and generally resolves on its own. Because IV iron bypasses the digestive system entirely, it does not cause the nausea, constipation, or stomach discomfort associated with oral iron supplements. Serious allergic reactions are rare with modern iron formulations like Monoferric.

The dose is calculated from your ferritin, your body weight, and whether you are pregnant. Most patients with significant deficiency receive a full replacement dose in a single visit, while people whose stores are less depleted receive a smaller dose.

Your naturopathic doctor works this out on your assessment call, so you know the number of visits and the cost before you book.

Two fees are paid to Ivy: $85 for the 15-minute assessment call and $225 for the infusion appointment. The iron itself is a separate cost, paid at the pharmacy when you fill your prescription, and runs $100 to $500 depending on the dose prescribed. The infusion fee is often claimable under your plan's naturopathic benefit, and the iron may be covered by your drug plan or PharmaCare Special Authority. Iron infusions are not covered by BC MSP. We do not direct bill, but we provide receipts.

Yes. We provide iron infusions for pregnant patients in their second or third trimester. Iron deficiency is common in pregnancy, affecting up to 50% of pregnant women. A virtual assessment with one of our naturopathic doctors is required before booking, to review your labs and confirm eligibility. Book your assessment at ivyhealthclinic.janeapp.com or call 250-410-4406.

Ivy Health Clinic offers IV iron infusions at our Pandosy Village location, 202-2900 Pandosy St, Kelowna, BC. Infusions are administered by Kerissa Connolly, RN, under the clinical oversight of our naturopathic doctors. No physician referral is required. You can self-refer by booking a virtual assessment call at ivyhealthclinic.janeapp.com or by calling 250-410-4406.

Yes. Anyone can book, wherever you live. Patients come in from across the Central Okanagan, including West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and Vernon, and others travel further, from the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in British Columbia. The assessment call is virtual, so only the infusion itself requires the trip to our Pandosy Village clinic in Kelowna. Most patients plan for one to two hours at the clinic on infusion day.

Booking is at ivyhealthclinic.janeapp.com or by calling 250-410-4406.