First, it's important to understand that in treating iron deficiency anemia, addressing the underlying cause is the top priority. It's crucial to eliminate the causes of iron deficiency as much as possible. Solely supplementing with iron can only restore the blood picture, and neglecting the treatment of the primary illness will not lead to a thorough treatment of the anemia. Once the medication for anemia is stopped, it can easily relapse.

So how long should iron supplements be taken for iron deficiency anemia? Generally, after patients start taking iron supplements, they can quickly feel an improvement in symptoms. The reticulocyte count tends to rise within three to four days after starting the supplements, reaching a peak around seven days. Hemoglobin shows a significant increase two weeks after starting the medication and can return to normal levels within one to two months. However, even after hemoglobin returns to normal, iron treatment should continue until the serum ferritin level has returned to 50 micrograms per liter before stopping the medication. If it's not possible to monitor serum ferritin, then iron supplements should be continued for three more months after hemoglobin has normalized, to replenish the body's iron stores. Therefore, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia with iron supplements generally lasts for three to six months.