Iron Supplements

[ReggieJones]

I've been taking iron supplements for iron deficiency (not anemia and I'm not pregnant). They seem to be taking longer to take effect than I thought, its been nearly a week and I still feel very tired. I've been on my period during the time I've been taking them. I'm wondering if anyone knows how long these supplements tend to take to take effect and whether being on my period at the same time may be making them less effective?

[CoffeeTwo]

I've had trouble with my iron levels for years. I've found that it can take a few weeks to really start feeling better once they've got low. I'd also recommend taking a supplement daily from now on as at times I've forgotten and my levels have dropped very quickly. Hope you're feeling better soon.

[HowsTheSerenity]

Depends on what kind of iron deficiency. I had been told I was iron deficient for years and so took daily iron supplements but they never seemed to work. Finally I found out that my haemoglobin levels were fine but my ferritin was through the floor. Iron tablets were useless for this I was told. I was encouraged to have an iron infusion instead. So over twenty years of taking iron tablets for nothing and one infusion later and my levels were normal.

[seagull70]

I also have low Ferratin levels and found that tablets didn't work, mainly because I couldn't tolerate them for more than a week at a time.

Liquid iron seems to helping though, albeit slowly.