Iron deficiency and constipation advice please

[PoptartPoptart]

DS (15) has been prescribed iron tablets from the doctor and apparently a common side effect of iron tablets is constipation.
She suggested taking a daily dose of syrup of figs to counteract the constipation but it’s only a natural laxative so I’m wondering if he will need something stronger?
Also, if you’ve ever taken iron tablets did they give you stomach cramps?

Hi there,

I am 12 weeks pregnant which is slightly different but suffered with constipation before I was. I have low iron so have been given iron tablets but explained my constipation as I know iron tablets can cause this so they have also prescribed me lactulose.

Iron tablets have given me stomach cramps and the first time I took them I was also sick.

You can get something called Spatone from boots which is natural iron and you dont get the horrible side effects. Hope this helps :)

Iron tablets made me horribly ill but I found one called Ferrograd which is slow release and was okay. I’d take it last thing at night with orange juice. The GP said it wouldn’t be as quick to work as the ones she prescribed but I decided I’d rather take those and build up my levels slowly than take ferrous fumerate and spend all day being sick.

I’ve been on different forms of iron most of my life. Best for absorption and not getting constipated is Spatone - the flavour isn’t particularly nice whatever the packet says, but I drink it in orange juice. I’ve tried everything else!

He was on Spatone for 3 months and it didn’t help raise his iron levels unfortunately, so that’s why the GP has prescribed tablets

I’ve found with DS that taking a regular probiotic has helped to counteract any constipation - nothing fancy, just an acidophilus from Holland and barret.

There are different forms of iron supplements that have different side effects. I take ferrous fumarate that actually makes my my stools looser rather than drier (sorry). Maybe see if she can be given a different one.

Syrup of figs, porridge, dried dates will all help bowel movements without any ill effects like becoming dependant on them.

You need to take iron on an empty stomach, at least >1hr after drinks like tea, coffee, milk and zinc supplements.

I take mine at night.

Do they know why he’s anaemic?.

He is not fully anaemic - his ferritin level was 30 (apparently the ‘normal’ range is anywhere between 15 - 300).
However, he has been experiencing some weird eczema symptoms on his face, which is a fairly new development, and the dermatologist seems to think this would improve if his iron levels were higher.

GP prescribed iron tablets made me ill.
never again

I take Floradix with Iron tablets. the liquid version is lovely, but impractical for me.
no constipation

Another Spatone recommendation here - just buy from Boots. Mix a couple of sachets with orange juice (vitamin c helps absorption) and avoid tea an hour either side. I have IBD and need iron quite frequently I now wouldn't use anything else, iron tablets made me feel awful and Spatone is much more quickly absorbed

You could ask your GP to prescribe a liquid iron like sodium feredetate trihydrate - I can't tolerate any if the iron tablets but this is very gentle on the stomach and higher in iron than over the counter medications.

I take iron tablets and there are two types of supplement. Non-heme iron which tend to cause the bowel problems. Then heme iron which are better absorbed by the body and don't cause the bowel issues. They are more expensive though. The ones I take are from Amazon brand is OptiFer.

I take Spatone but double, triple or even 4 sachets when my iron is low. GP prescription makes me very constipated. Spatone doesn't.

Other helpers - increase water intake; increase fruit and veg; add a few teaspoons of linseed (seeds) to cereal (or other food). This isn't so much a laxative as makes the poo more slippy so easier to pass and a good magnesium supplement - NOT milk of magnesia but a magnesium glycinate or malate.