Upset stomach when taking Iron tablets

[longtompot]

I have to take iron tablets for anaemia but I struggle with them. I have over the past three years tried various ones, Spatone just doesn't have enough, Ferrous fumerate and sulphate (which I am currently taking) both upset my stomach and cause either constipation and or diarrhoea and make me feel sick. I have also tried Feroglobin liquid stuff which is disgusting and does all the other things.
I take them with a glass of orange juice and take them after food. The one time I took them before food I was shaking, felt very sick and just very ill, so I've not done that again.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help with this? My stomach is currently growling away so I know I shall have to rush to the loo again very soon.
The only thing that helped with my iron and didn't upset my stomach was infusions, which I'd really prefer them to do again tbh. It was about a year ago, and I had a procedure last week which is meant to help with the anaemia so hopefully my stored iron can start to increase. In hospital they did a blood test and my haemaglobin was 83 and my ferritin was 3!

Spatone is what you need. It is the only iron I can tolerate.

How strange, I’ve recently started taking iron tablets too and have avoided doing so in the last couple of days due to bouts of really upset stomach. Tried taking with food but made no difference.

I’ve had this I’d take half one a day. It’s still much better than a low multi vitamin and will take longer. But better than nothing. Make sure you do take with your main meal as well. Found no one was particular sympathetic you were supposed put up with them.

@rhonddacynontaf

Spatone is what you need. It is the only iron I can tolerate.

Not enough iron in them sadly.

@Akire

I’ve had this I’d take half one a day. It’s still much better than a low multi vitamin and will take longer. But better than nothing. Make sure you do take with your main meal as well. Found no one was particular sympathetic you were supposed put up with them.

I can't split them. They are small and round with a hard shell like an ibuprofen.

I've been taking ferrous sulphate recently and had a dreadful upset stomach for the first two weeks (but carried on because I really needed them) My body must've got used to them because I've gone back to normal now.

I meant to say how long do you persevere with them Op before you change? I'm wondering if you can give them longer for your body to, hopefully, adjust?

I too found spatone was digestible (but it wasn't strong enough) and the fumarate type gave me gut issues.
I now take one or two ferrous bisglycinate tablets and also one dose of floradix (mixed with fruit juice) each day. This combo works for me and hemoglobin is slowly increasing even though I'm pregnant.

I was taking fumerate for 6 months - bad upset stomach throughout. I really doubted I was absorbing any of it! I was supposed to take 3 a day, I eventually managed 1 every other. I reckoned it was better than nothing.

I have just started on spatone I can’t cope with anything else and figured something better than nothing

Can you take multiple Spatone?

You can buy them cheap at Chemist with no shell coating just brown tablet. Same strength that doctors gives. Sometimes I get given them depends on what they click on drop down options. They are often cheaper buy then pay prescription cost for.

No advice but you have my full sympathy. Iron is horrible stuff to take. I was on ferrous fumarate with one pregnancy and sulphate on the other, they made me feel nauseous the whole time I took them. Also constipated.

I was going to ask if infusions were a possibility tbh. Are you needing them because of a chronic condition?

I had the same awful side effects and was on them for years made no difference what’s so ever for my anaemia so I stopped taking them.

I take with a vitamin c tablet plus the juice. It's supposed to reduce effects as absorption increased. Otherwise I take a low a dose as I can, and take a break if I have an upset tummy.

And I don't bother with spatone. From what I remember it's not even a medical dose. Expensive iron water.

I sympathise, I have the same. Watching with interest.

Floradix is very good, OP. Much kinder on the stomach.

I am fortunate that I can take iron with no problems but it was suggested to me that if I did have the problems that you are having to take it with a big glass of fresh orange juice rather than in an empty stomach as they advise.

Gave you tried Ferrograd or Ferrograd c tablets? They are a slow release tablet so can prevent stomach upsets.

I was also thinking about Floradix as an alternative. Is it any good?

Have*

I take Galfer 350 mg twice a day and have zero issues, on an empty stomach too

What dose are you prescribed? For a lot of people just one tablet a day/every other day (instead of the old fashioned 3x a day) will work but with fewer side effects. Might be worth talking to your gp about?