How much Floradix & Spatone is 200mg of ferrous sulphate a day

[AnotherBloodyUsername]

As I don't think it's enough.....& DD hates taking tablets!

Any ideas?

So, all the iron in Spatone is absorbed but only a very tiny fraction of the tablets will, reasons why they have such high number. If you were to take 200mg from the liquid form, you might well get intoxicated.
I am vegan, and slightly anaemic so looked into supplements. Tablets have very bad side effects, from cramping, to constipation. Spatone has zero side effects. So I was taking two sachets per day. Now I make my own iron water with the www.luckyironfish.com .
I will soon have blood test and will see if I am not deficient anymore.

If your DD is not vegan/vegetarian, the best way to reverse a deficiency is by eating clams.

Two very important considerations:
(1) tea and coffee (no matter is regular or decaf) basically kills absorption of iron, so you need to supplement 2 hours from having it or going to take a cup
(2) vit C boosts absorption so you should have a piece of lemon or broccoli with your supplement

She has her spatone in Orange juice normally but she stopped taking it when she started the Floradix

I think she should be taking both.....

How low is her iron?
Is she vegan/vegetarian?

And how old is she?

She is 19, she is borderine aneamic but not not eating very well

She is in the middle of a 14 week period so very run done

What's her ferritin level? Her b12? I'm assuming she has had GP involvement for the periods?

Be careful OP don’t mess with iron without HCP guidance. It’s very easy to have too much and that can be dangerous. I’d get levels checked on spatone only then take medical guidance.

Spatone has zero side effects.

not true for everyone. I got unpleasant side effects, but had no problems with duodenal (dissolve in gut not stomach) tablets.

Her ferritin is 14

B12 wasn't checked by the GP but we have seen a private consultant who has checked everything (results on Wed) & asked her to take 200 ferrous sulphate but she struggles taking tablets so I was hoping to use Floradix & Spatone

The ferritin is under range, therefore they should be looking at giving her an infusion, which will bring levels up within a couple of days. With ferritin at that level, OTC products will just not cut it and tablets may also not actually do the job very quickly.

I could only ever tolerate one ferrous fumarate tablet a day and it took me four years to raise my ferritin levels from where your DD is to optimal. I wouldn't put her through that.

OK I guess I'll speak to the consultant on Wednesday - I'm assuming that will cost quite a bit!

The GP just said buy OTC - bugger she had a second blood test on Friday so the results may show higher - she had been supplimenting for nearly 3 weeks....that really wouldn't make much difference would it

There was a poster on here a few years ago who explained the difference between the iron in Spatone (tiny) and the iron in a proper supplement.

I'll see if I can find it.

But Floradix is OK isn't it?

Found it:

Just to illustrate, a sachet of Spatone has 5mg of elemental iron. A single ferrous fumarate tablet (210mg) has 68mg iron. You would need to take almost 14 sachets of Spatone per day to get the same amount. I was on a double dose so that's 27 sachets or a whole box nearly. They are £££ too.

I can't link the thread and the quote in the same post but I'll post the link separately.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2021591-Why-has-this-happened

Those tablets mentioned seem to have been prescribed so you may not be able to get the same strength over the counter.

I personally have been extremely anaemic in the past and found it almost impossible to get my GP to refer for an infusion.

Hopefully the consultant will be co-operative (if that is the right thing for DD)

The ferritin is under range, therefore they should be looking at giving her an infusion, which will bring levels up within a couple of days. With ferritin at that level, OTC products will just not cut it and tablets may also not actually do the job very quickly.

I don't disagree, though not that informed about the risks, but I seriously doubt they will do it. My level was 8 point something and an infusion wasn't mentioned, they said 210mg tablets three times a day.

Yes mine was 7 something and at its worst 6.??. No infusion.

On the posted blood results it clearly says no anemia. Unlikely to be getting an infusion based on that.

I took a over the recommended dose of spatone when I had a low blood count and they tested me regularly. My levels never rose while on it even when taking two or three sachets per day. My Consultant said it's virtually like drinking water and to start taking a recognised supplement with vitamin c to help absorb the iron.

That's what the post on the link I referred to said as well SmileSunshine. I'm amazed midwives and other HCPs are recommending for anaemia.

You would need 40 sachets of Spatone to get 200mg of iron

Is Floradix OK?

I don't know. How much iron does it have in it?

Crap it's only 15mg for a days dose

I Googled it.

15mg per 20ml and a dose is 10ml. So 7.5mg per dose which is 50% more than Spatone but much less than prescribed tablets.

You should really be taking to a pharmacist or doctor about this.