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Original poster

Could iron tablets be making me poorly??

60 replies

Biskitteef · 19/02/2026 20:52

I suffer with chronic anaemia (lowest point was a ferritin of 3). They always prescribed me iron tablets which I’d take sparingly but often forget and sometimes just gave up on.

Then my hair started falling out so I decided to take the newly prescribed iron tablets more seriously, religiously taking them every single night.

Now - these ones are a different brand (still ferrous fumerate but the box looks very different). Then have an awful weird taste, with the old ones I got a slight metallic taste from them but these have a strong weird chemical taste to them.

For the past few weeks I have suffered with a constantly bloated stomach, wind and mild abdominal pain. Everytime I eat, my stomach bloats up and starts hurting. Could it be the iron tablets causing this?? I have a dr appointment next Friday but tempted to stop taking them until the appointment?

OP posts:
APinkMohairJumperKnittedByAnImbecile · 19/02/2026 21:14

I have dreadful issues with taking 2 iron pills alongside some as yet undiscovered food item but possibly cheese. I thought it was cheese for a long time but it's not, it's the iron. So far nothing on just one pill. Really bad stomach cramps, not being able to breathe properly with the pain, followed by severe diarrhoea for hours.

TheMimsy · 19/02/2026 21:11

@Biskitteef absolutely! I’m in a similar position. Most iron tablets make me extremely ill. I take prescribed gentle iron supplements and much better.

I also look at food that’s high in iron etc to try and boost it.

watchingthishtread · 19/02/2026 21:10

Yes, it could. They have the same effect on me.

Devilsmommy · 19/02/2026 21:09

I get really bad bloating and the runs when taking iron tablets. Maybe ask GP for a different pill or maybe a spray instead.

TinselAngel · 19/02/2026 21:07

Iron Supplements have always given me the runs.

BangFlash · 19/02/2026 21:07

I take spa tone, it's lower iron content but more bio available so works for me. The tablets always murdered my digestion.

Stopping for a few days to see if the symptoms disappear might be wise? Then GP if they don't.

Monvelo · 19/02/2026 21:04

Sounds like it could be. I find it's best to take them at night, then I sleep through any issues!

mindutopia · 19/02/2026 21:03

Look for a gentle iron.

MegCleary · 19/02/2026 21:02

They are quite the stomach irritant, my ferritin was 2 and i I was on ferrous gluconate three times a day, spent most of the day on the loo had a month off work to get my ferritin to 20.

ferrous glucontae gentler than ferrous sulphate

Indigomelon · 19/02/2026 21:01

It’s worth checking your symptoms with the doctor incase it’s something else, but iron tablets can have these type of side effects. I take ferrous sulfate which I find a bit better than others, but still need to drink alot of juice etc as they are constipating. I find they also make me feel nauseous in the morning. I have to take them though due to very low ferritin. You probably already know this but best not to have any caffeine or milk containing products around the time you take your tablets as this greatly reduces absorption.

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