Iron supplements

[livs1987]

I don’t have anemia but have been tested for it repeatedly over the years as my FBC results are typically low.

My recent ferritin levels are particularly low, I believe 1 out of 16 but I don’t have my results to hand. It was right at the low end. However GP wasn’t concerned as this was still in the normal range. I had been taking iron supplements for a year at this point so found this concerning.

What should I be taking to improve my health? I now take 2 iron (14mg) tablets a day and have recently bought liquid iron sachets. Is this too much/not enough? Was planning on trying this for 3 months.

Hi OP o had low ferritin levels but like you lot low enough to be 'in the red'. I went to a gp after being told the results are fine and said even if they're technically ok it is affecting my day to day life and explained the symptoms. She prescribed 200mg ferris sulphate (may be spelt wrong!) shop bought iron tablets are a low dose. However the tablets caused constipation so in the end I stopped them. But I did feel better after a few weeks of taking them.
I bought a pack from a pharmacy. They're kept behind he counter. If you take your results to them they Willa sell you a pack without a prescription. They're very cheap (around £2).

Willa = may!

Firstly, can you find out your actual ferritin level? The reception staff should be able to tell you.

Secondly, you might need to have further tests to find out why it’s low. Coeliac, heavy periods etc.

Thirdly, if 14mg are the ones off the shelves they’re not enough to raise low levels. You need the proper ones from the pharmacy counter.

You can definitely buy them without a prescription. You can even buy them on eBay!

Thank you!

Sorry completely ignore what I said about my ferritin levels before - got it confused with something else! My actual levels are:

16ug/L (10-300ug/L)

Looks like I’ll have to visit the pharmacy then. I’m on the depo so don’t have any periods anymore, let alone heavy. However when I first went on the depo in late 2017 I did have exceptionally heavy bleeding at that time. The results above were taken in September 2018 so about a year after I was on the depo.

16! I think mine were 20. The gp said she'd expect someone under 100 to feel quite rubbish.

Haha my GP isn’t concerned in the slightest!

To be fair I don’t really feel unwell, but I have noticed that my hair is falling out and my skin is dry/itchy. General tiredness etc but I’m okay.

Is buy a box of the ferris sulphate and take 1 a day. On the pack it says 1-2 a day. The gp told me to take 2 a day for 3 months but the effects on my digestion started to affect me more than having low iron! You'll probably feel better quite soon :) I hope you do!

Check my thread out last weekend on this very topic. Loads of helpful advice on it

Today I went to two different pharmacies however they both said to go back to my GP for the suggested tablets. They said that at the low level I have, my GP should have actually prescribed the tablets! Bit annoying

But u can buy them over the counter?