Iron tablets

[Julieb85]

Has anyone else had experience of iron tablets...I've been prescribed ferrous fumarate and have literally not stopped throwing up since I started taking them. It's the worst kind of throat burning sickness and it's making me miserable...

[cheapredwine]

I was given ferrous sulphate, they made me feel utterly vile and Ilasted 2 days before binning them and resorting to Spatone and diet modifications. So far it's worked pretty well and my haemoglobin has increased (which honestly didn't really expect) but we'll see... Spatone isn't cheap but 3 for 2 from Boots helps. It's liquid and much more benign than the tablets. Hope you feel better soon OP

[NeedACleverNN]

I reacted badly to ferrous sulphate.

Really felt sick and didn't want to eat


Spatone gave me tummy ache

I actually take a supplement called ferroglobin now. Got it from Holland and Barrett. It's less iron than a prescription one but it's still got quite a bit in and so far I haven't had a problem with it

[twinkletoedelephant]

Not pregnant now but been on ff tablets for a long time. Its all fine until I taste them they make me gag.

Can you put them in a spoon of thick yoghart to swallow or nutella

[Threeunderthree33]

Spatone might help. Little sachet of water. Less iron that tablets because your body absorbs it more easily. So a bit more gentle. Mix with orange juice to help with absorption and so it tastes better.

[Julieb85]

Thanks everyone. I called my GP and asked if there was an alternative but was pretty much told they are expected to make you feel sick and just get on with it. I'm going to skip them tomorrow and see if I feel better then maybe speak to a pharmacist

[cheapredwine]

I'm pretty sure you can't get Spatone on prescription unfortunately, and IIRC fumarate is supposed to be more generally tolerable than sulphate, but I might be wrong, so maybe not surprising GP not terribly helpful sadly. Hope you get something sorted.

[suspiciousofgoldfish]

I took these after my EMCS...... Never again.

They made me so constipated I couldn't Poo for weeks, the pain was just as bad as the six hours of labour I endured before the op. Had to use suppositories in the end, which was another experience I don't wish to re-live.

You can get really good iron tablets from health food shops, the good ones should have knowledgeable staff to advise you on the best ones to try.

My advice would be not to take the ferrous sulphate tablets, they are evil!l
(I have no medical training whatsoever, btw. But I do know I won't be taking those tablets ever again!)

[mellowyellow1]

Goldfish same here! I have been on them for almost 2 weeks since giving birth and I have been constipated and in agony. Going to stop taking them I think!

[LumpishAndIllogical]

I am pregnant and got the worst constipation with FS. Instead I am taking Solgar prenatal vitamins with gentle Iron which are non-constipating vegetable capsules. Generally my stomach feels better since. Think the gentle iron is called Iron bisglycinate, which you can get from solgar tablets or just look in health food store. I find it very effective and solgar do just iron tablets too.