AIBU - aversion to iron tablets

[oddlycurious]

GP has said I need to be taking the ones prescribed that are 210mg twice a day.

In my 30s and been anaemic all my life, post partum, my iron started getting really low around a year and a half ago.

But the thought of the tablets just make me sick, I try so hard to take them but taking them out the packet make me gag. Used to take the coated ones and actually be sick after them but now its the noncoated tablets and I feel the same.

Diet is good, not a lot of red meat but lots of veg and fruit and chicken. I feel fine generally but know my low iron is affecting my body in other ways.

Any advice please?? The ones available on the market that are easier to take are only around 20MG. I need a much higher dosage.

Also, don't tell me to suck it up. Nothing nice to say then don't say it. Thank you.

https://www.wildnutrition.com/products/food-grown-iron-plus

I can’t tolerate iron in supplements such as Well Woman but have been taking these for a while now and find them to be really good. No nausea whatsoever. I haven’t had a repeat iron test recently but judging by the reviews, others have had good results.

I might have a discount code - if you’re interested I’ll check and post.

Are you anaemic?
these only contain 10mg iron whereas the OP has been prescribed 2 x 210mg a day.
are you seriously suggesting she takes 42 of these tablets per day?!

This. 💯

People really need to be careful about what they’re recommending. If you have diagnosed anaemia none of the lower strength over the counter iron supplements are strong enough. Untreated anaemia can kill you, it’s very serious. It’s very important people take the correct level of medication.

Three to four sachets of Spatone a day for a year raised my ferritin from 17 to 80. I couldn't take the iron tablets either, so just used the Spatone and orange juice.

It was a bit expensive though, but worth it as there were no side effects.

I take ferrous gluconate 300mg 3 times per week. It’s 1 tablet, and it’s a coated one, about the size of a smartie. No taste to it that I’ve noticed.

Ferrous sulphate and fumerate both made me constipated, this has been fine. It was prescribed, but I buy over the counter as it’s cheaper than prescription cost.
Im not due a blood test just yet but I do feel better so I’m hopeful that it’s working.

Nope, not anaemic and of course not suggesting these as an alternative to a prescribed high dose of iron.

They are, however, a good alternative to the Spatone and Floradix etc. mentioned upthread, both of which contain less iron than these, as a maintenance dose once iron stores are replenished for someone who doesn’t tolerate iron supplements well.

I wish people would rtft and stop recommending spatone. Do you expect the OP to take 42 sachets, twice a day?

Wow! Did not expect this many replies.

Thank you so much.

I will look into them investigating why my iron is low. This has never been suggested, I've been anaemic since my teens, had a baby but still always anaemic. They tried a transfusion once but it didn't suit me then they said they would try another type or something but it never happened. My period does wipe me out the first day or so and I know its because of the anaemia but they're not very heavy. I have have had tranzamic acid in the past but was never told to have it on every period?

Even if they gave me the transfusion to increase my levels then I can take spatone and the gentler iron to maintain it.

Thanks everyone. Still reading through the comments but thanks for being kind!

Current NICE guidance is iron once daily (taking it more than once a day actually blocks iron absorption and increases the side effects, especially stomach / bowels) it can be taken every other day if it causes too many stomach/ bowel side effects.

Comparing products is tricky, there are different iron salts, ferrous sulfate/ gluconate/ fumerate etc and many more. It's recommended that you take about 65mg of elemental iron dailyif you are anaemic... that is about the amount of iron in one ferrous sulfate 200mg tablet or one ferrous fumarate 210mg tablet etc... Iron is very toxic in over dose so please don't take more than prescribed

I never knew there were different irons. Can anyone explain the differences?

Ferrous gluconate, Ferrous sulphate, Ferrous fumerate, Ferric Maltol, and Iron bisglycinate have all been suggested on this thread alone, thats five!

This is exactly what I was thinking.