Can anyone please tell me, the best iron supplements out there for anemia ?

[LovelyYellowLabrador]

Been taking spatone but im not getting my iron levels up
I’ve also tried taking ferrous fumarate 225mg I think it is
Bit after googling I can see there’s one called galfer which is also ferrous fumarate
But that’s 305 mg which is apprently 100mg of iron

So can anyone please tell me the most effective one to take

Assuming you have diagnosed anaemia (I.e. by blood tests at a GP), your GP should be advising on the best treatment. I don't mean that in a harsh way, but the vast majority of otc iron simply won't contain enough or in the right format for absorption!

The best iron supplements are the ones prescribed by a doctor

My go told me to buy it at the pharmacy

GP

She wants to see me asap for another blood test anyway
So I’ll ask then

But I started taking soatone as it’s a bit more gentle in the tummy
But I don’t think it has enough iron in it

I take ferrous sulphate, it’s helped my very very low ferritin levels.

GP told me to buy it as it’s cheaper than her prescribing it so I get generic stuff from an online pharmacy and it’s helped loads. I take two a day and follow the NHS guidance on their website about how to take it to get the best absorption, which the GP didn’t mention. Eg avoid caffeine, dairy and eggs for an hour after.

Feraglobin capsules

Anne loves yeah that’s why she tells me to buy it but I think the spatone is just not strong enough
I need to get this sorted
Thanks for the advice I did know that about milk but I didn’t know about eggs or dairy

Spatone doesn’t have enough iron in it to make much of a difference if you are already iron-deficient. The rule of thumb is that you need 65mg of iron a day (taken on an empty stomach) to correct an iron deficiency, which is approximately 200mg of ferrous fumarate, so if that’s what you’re taking then it should be fine. If you experience a lot of side effects you could try taking it every other day, and there is evidence to suggest that might be enough to correct a deficiency, but that’s something you’d be better off discussing with your GP or pharmacist. The NICE guidelines have a lot of useful information in them if you want more info: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/

The only thing that works for me is ferrous sulphate 200mg.

Just to add, I’ve doubled checked the numbers because I wasn’t sure off the top of my head but one sachet of spatone only has about 5mg of iron in it.

I have liquid iron (prescribed) and it's bloody marvellous. ayp.healthcare/sytron-syrup-sodium-feredetate-500ml?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1x8eQBYEaq8v7gwhmE-uOsefL86nyfEZYgew-Vovw_ED2aTvtmgY2caAhAFEALw_wcB

Nothing you can buy otc will be a big enough dose.

@WeirdlyKind FYI you can buy Sytron without prescription. It a pharmacy only medicine but it’s available to buy.

Look for a supplement with heme iron as this is the most easily absorbed. They are expensive though. Otherwise iron bisglycinate, which has less chance of unpleasant digestive effects. Also take in conjuction with vitamin B12.

I was also advised by my GP to buy otc because it was cheaper than a prescription. I take ferrous sulphate. Need to book another blood test but my iron levels seem to be going in the right direction.

I ask the pharmacist but the best tip I had was to take with vitamin C and to reduce tea, coffee and calcium intake and all interfere with iron absorption.
I am also diagnosed and the GP just sent me to the pharmacy to try a few different types. I now buy a ferrous fumerate and vit C combination.

The feroglobin slow release ones were the only ones I bought that managed to make a difference. I used to be tired all the time but it’s better since I’ve been taking them.

@WeirdlyKind

I have liquid iron (prescribed) and it's bloody marvellous. ayp.healthcare/sytron-syrup-sodium-feredetate-500ml?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1x8eQBYEaq8v7gwhmE-uOsefL86nyfEZYgew-Vovw_ED2aTvtmgY2caAhAFEALw_wcB

Nothing you can buy otc will be a big enough dose.

The stuff they prescribe is exactly the same as you can buy otc.

If you drink coffee or tea (including decaf) with in near your meals the tannins will inhibit the absorption of iron.