Ferrous sulfate

[Storminateacup74]

I have been prescribed ferrous sulfate for iron deficiency anaemia. Wierd thing is I have no symptoms at all and it was only picked up when I went to give blood. I was advised to go to GP and i had a blood test to confirm. She has prescribed me 200mg tablet 3 times a day however after reading on the internet about how irritable it can be on the stomach and because I have no symptoms can i just take it twice a day. Also do I take it with or without food. Leaflet says empty stomach but nhs website and one of the tv doctors say always take with food as is more easily absorbed, thanks in advancel

I've only been prescribed it twice a day (pregnant and my iron levels are '105' which is apparently right on the limit for being able to be at a midwife led unit)

I take mine with a large glass of water or orange juice mixed with fybogel in the morning.

I take it after supper with a large glass of water.

You have to avoid taking it when you have any dairy or a cup of tea as they inhibit absorption.

I would try and up your intake of red meat, green leafy veg etc in the meantime to get off the tablets as soon as you can.

I would always take medication as prescribed as there is good evidence behind the dosing. By taking twice instead of three times a day it could take longer to replace your iron stores and you could end up having to take for a longer time. Iron replacement is usually a 3 month course and then you should have your bloods rechecked and the dose reduced for maintenance if iron stores have been replenished and you are no longer deficient.

Oh yes to be clear I was meaning take the prescribed dose, I'm on two tablets a day and I'm only borderline so it sounds like your levels must be pretty low. Even taking the two a day it's taking time to build my levels up again. Much longer than I thought it would.

So don't just take the tablets and assume that fixes things, you need to get into a routine of eating iron rich foods too as you really don't want to be on iron tablets any longer than you have to be.

I found this stuff horrendous on my digestive system. In the end my GP changed me to Ferrous Fumerate which has considerably gentler on the stomache.

Exactly the same happened to me, picked up as I was giving blood. I was feeling tired, but then my lifestyle was tiring so didn't think anything of it.

I too was prescribed this dose by my GP and I ended up so constipated and therefore bloated and very uncomfortable, I dropped it to 1 a day. I found that I tolerated it very well. It took 3 months for my levels to go way up at which point I had to stop it, so it worked for me.

I was on this, but not for long. It made me sick, so I switched to ferrous fumarate and I was fine. Also, what you're on, as I was, is a really high dose. Now my levels are within the normal range, I take a tablet every other day and the doctor said this was ok. It's a bit of trial and error to see what suits your body.