Best time of day to take iron and vitamin C supplements?

[SatsumaFan]

I'm anaemic, and fed up with being knackered all the time. The ferrous fumerate tablets the doctor prescribed me last year turned my poo black and sticky and made my tummy worse (I have IBS).

So, bought some Spatone iron sachets which are meant to be gentler on the stomach and a month in, all good (tho am still tired all the time...but I only take a sachet every other day). However, it says on the leaflet they're best taken on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and to avoid tea and dairy within 30-45 mins of taking it as it inhibits absorption.

Problem is, I wake at 7am and am.starving, and have a cup of tea and a bowl of cereal within 10 mins of waking. So then I've tried taking it at lunchtime, but a lot of the time I have eggs which you're also meant to avoid having with iron supplements?!

I've also forked out £18 for some fancy liposomal Vit C tablets which are meant to be taken with food. But I read having Vit C at the same time as iron boosts the iron absorption?!

What do others do? And yes, I'm massively over thinking this, but don't want to create expensive piss so want to get it right.

Thanks.

I take my spatone in a glass of fresh orange (full of vit c). I usually have it mid afternoon, I need coffee on a morning!

Yes I've been taking it with a small glass of fresh orange juice, but am trying to lose weight so the sugar isn't great. So have now bought the sachets of Apple Spatone which apparently don't need mixing with juice? So thought I'd have that with the vit C tablet.

Don't think it really matters what time, but between meals with a glass of orange juice might let it get absorbed better if you can't handle it first thing. If it gives you an upset stomach just take it with whatever meal you want, I used to take mine before dinner and it was fine. You don't need fancy Vitamin C tablets either, a glass of orange juice will do fine

Thank you. Might do it mid-morning between cups of tea...

My immune system is rubbish hence the expensive vitamin C.

You might need to take a sachet every day if your iron levels are very low? I know Spatone isn't doesn't contain as much iron as the tablets doctors prescribe, hence the lack of nasty side effects.
Here is a good radio 4 Inside Health episode about iron supplements that I'd recommend.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09ply54

Mine say one hour before or two hours after tea or dairy to gwt best absorbition. So you could eat at 7 then take at 9 and mid afternoon?

@Disney2 thanks - I've listened to that before, but just listened again. I'll stick to taking Spatone every other day then, and when it runs out try going back to ferrous fumerate tablets every other day/3 times a week.

@Akire I have breakfast around 7.15am, with tea...then cups of tea around 10, 1pm and 3/4pm !