How can I take iron suppliments without feeling sick?

[Samraves]

Hi there,
Just found out that I am slightly anemic, and need iron suppliments. The only prob is that I have trouble taking tablets and the tablets are huge.

So... got some syrup, but tastes so foul it makes me gag and I can't swallow it. Any ideas? Can I just try mixing it with different things like orange juice? or can anyone recommend a nicer way of getting enough enough (even if I have to fork out for something from a health food shop)

Thanks

S

[Doretaball]

Hi

I was been prescribed iron tablets a month or so ago - can't remember which ones but they begin wiht "f" - they're tiny little tablets and I don't notice them when I drink them with some OJ. Perhaps get your doctor to give you some smaller ones instead?

I did still find the high dosage they put me on made me feel sick and so, on advice from GP, I reduced them to one a day (from 3 a day) - with my evening meal and I seem to be fine now. Just need to wait until my 34 week blood check to see if iron levels are better.

I've also been trying to eat high iron foods - if you google it - there are lots of websites which detail which foods have lots of iron.

I'm snacking on sunflower seeds and trying to eat more red meat and lots of salads with watercress/spinach etc.

Good luck

[lainey1981]

Hi
have you tried spatone? its iron in liquid form but its a bit easier on stomach than tablets, not nice on its own but put it in juice and you cant really taste it - vitamin c needs to be taken for iron to be absorbed so put it in a glass of oj maybe

[angels1]

hey, I'm the same. Not got my blood results back yet but sure I'll need some iron med too. I can't swallow tablets full stop and iron med always upsets my stomach. I use 'floradix' liquid iron and vit formula. From health food stores. Probably not good if you'[re seriously deficient but it's veg sources of iron. I usually start on half the normal dose and work my way up to be gentle on my tummy. It doesn't taste fabulous (slightly metalic) but it's OK (I think) and if you eat/drink something after hopefully it'd be OK.

[withorwithoutyou]

I second spatone, it's 3 for 2 in boots.

[wahwahwah]

I used to take the liquid stuff. I used to pop it into orange juice.

[loopyloops]

Florodix or whatever it's called is brilliant. Liquid, natural and not too bad to taste. Absorbs much better than tablets and doesn't make you constipated.

[hmmSleep]

Like others have said I was recommended spatone by my midwife today as tablets were giving me diarrhea. She said to mix it with orange juice.

[lucy101]

I had real problems with the tablets - but now I take 2 sachets of spatone in juice and it is great - doesn't upset my stomach at all and my iron levels are fine.

[mistlethrush]

I was borderline needing a transfusion some years ago and they told me to take iron supplements - expecting on the dose I took to get levels back to reasonable in 3 wks. Despite being vegetarian, I got them there in a week by having lots of carob - you can buy carob powder in health or whole food shops, and also carob bars (although if you want to avoid the things they add, just go for the powder) - I was having a teaspoon full iwth my cereal (makes the milk turn 'chocolaty' (although its not chocolate), and another in yoghurt later on in the day - very easy to absorb, has never had any impact on my digestive system either.....

[missrose]

I couldn't tolerate the tablets either, they made me vomit. I'm taking Spatone now. You can get it on prescription from your GP but you have to ask for it by name - for some reason (too expensive?) they don't offer it to you. Also, it's quite a low concentration of iron so I've been advised to take three sachets a day by my consultant even though it says two on the box for pregnant women.

Tea and coffee inhibit iron absorption so avoid those when you're taking it.

Hope this helps x

[AlgebraRocksMySocks]

yes, avoid caffeine if possible and when you eat iron rich food, drink a glass of orange juice as vitamin c aids iron absorption :)

[Samraves]

Thank you so much - I think I will pop into Boots and get some Spatone to try - if it works I will see if my dr will prescribe it!

Give me hope that Spatone will be fine if so many of you have found it ok after having probs with the other stuff