Ferritin / hair loss / how many tablets??

[Twoanklebiters]

Hello I have posted on this a few times but now it’s been 4 months since I was told to start taking ferrous sulphate tablets by my GP. I was feeling a bit grotty and my hair has thinned horribly. He told me to take 1 ferrous sulphate tablet a day but I read that won’t be enough so I’m taking 2 (pack says you can take up to 3). All other symptoms largely disappeared thankfully, but hair loss persists and looks so awful. I was hoping to have seen a change by now!
I was thinking of going up to 3 tablets a day - can anyone who used ferrous sulphate for low ferritin and who successfully recovered their hair, tell me what dosage you took? I don’t want to wait extra months just because I’m not taking enough. Levels started at 13 and GP won’t test again until 6 months are up. I’m getting desperate for things to get better quickly! Thank you

I tried tablets but I wasn't really improving my levels (some kind of absorption issue). I wanted to boost my levels quickly (different kind of hair loss also depressing) so I went for an iron infusion last week. I don't know whether the NHS will cover it, perhaps in some circumstances they do. I went privately.

There is evidence now that 1 tablet a day, or even every other day is more effective than higher doses. I would follow the advice of your doctor.

@BlackSwan

I tried tablets but I wasn't really improving my levels (some kind of absorption issue). I wanted to boost my levels quickly (different kind of hair loss also depressing) so I went for an iron infusion last week. I don't know whether the NHS will cover it, perhaps in some circumstances they do. I went privately.

Oh good idea. Do you know what your levels were to start with? Was your iron the cause of the hair loss? How do you feel after the infusion? I’m trying to take the fact that my other symptoms have gone away as a good sign! But it’s hard when things seem to be getting worse hair wise.

Here is the current guidance. Am not surprised your hair is lagging behind your other symptoms to improve either. Essentially you've got to wait for the new healthier hair to come through.

I started taking feroglobin and noticed a difference after several months

Wispy hair around my hairline

@Flyingbymypants

Here is the current guidance. Am not surprised your hair is lagging behind your other symptoms to improve either. Essentially you've got to wait for the new healthier hair to come through.

Oh I see that just says one tablet a day! Argh. Maybe I’m best sticking with what I’m doing? It’s tricky as my GP just won’t test again yet. I did ask at 3 months. I feel like my hair has got worse over this time. Do you think 4 months is too early?

Why won't your GP test again?

I had a test after one month and they increased my dose to two tablets a day for now. Another test due in a few weeks.

The itching has been driving me mad lately.

@tackling

Why won't your GP test again?

I had a test after one month and they increased my dose to two tablets a day for now. Another test due in a few weeks.

The itching has been driving me mad lately.

I don’t really know as I can’t get to speak to them directly, it’s messages passed via the reception who call me back. Very frustrating. But I think basically they think I need to allow 6 months to see a difference. But that is so long when hair is getting worse isn’t it. I really really hope things start to turn around soon I must admit I had terrible itching too when I started this treatment. Never really thought of it as related!

That's really rubbish.

How, er, squeamish are you? you could try a private test eg
https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/iron-test-kit.html

Yes the itching is down to low iron levels apparently. I have an itchy stomach and legs and no amount of scratching helps, driving me a bit mad at the moment.

Hi QuoteTwoanklebiters my level was in the 30's prior to the infusion, having been on two iron tablets a day for nearly a year.
I lost a patch of hair (bald) due to the covid booster & another vaccine according to my dermatologist - it was a bad immune response...
Not the kind of hair loss which is usually seen with low iron, but low iron can't help for regrowth, so that's why I wanted to address it.
I felt a bit wiped out the 2nd day following the infusion, but now I'm fine. Apparently it's at the 2 week mark you would notice energy levels rising etc.

There are lots of private places these days you can get tested at home using an online kit, like Thriva and Medichecks I think it's called. I had to do this after GP refused various tests for thyroid. It showed up issues he was refusing to test for.

Current guidance as posted above is that you absorb more of the iron having one tablet a day, or even alternate days, than 2 or 3 a day.

Some doctors and Mumsnetters have not caught up!

It takes months and months to replace your iron stores - just think about how long you were losing it for before you even noticed.

Are you sure it’s the tablets? Can’t low iron itself cause hair loss?

Twoanklebiters how are you doing with your iron levels?

Just wrote a whole long reply but my page was refreshed and it didn’t post it 😭. I’ll summarise.
starting ferritin - 13 in October 2021
NHS test March 2022 - 58
caught Covid, stopped tablets for 4 weeks.
private test beginning of May - 90.

But I think I should ignore the 90 result as it’s a big jump from 58 just 6 weeks before, and for 4 weeks I wasn’t supplementing! So think maybe post Covid inflammation.

My hair is still terrible, still coming out loads (12 weeks post Covid now so perhaps that hasn’t helped). I have some really balding patches by my face at the sides and the top. I’m so down about it.
this has been almost 8 months now and I can’t see an improvement. I wonder if I will soon. I do have two tiny new half moons on two fingernails that have just started coming in, and all other symptoms have largely gone or improved.
do you think I just need to hold on and wait a little longer?? I really need some hope!!

Hair loss is so distressing. Covid definitely does not help. Can you afford a private dermatologist who specialises in hair loss? You might benefit from steroids for instance... (topical or injection)

Sorry to hear it is still causing issues for you.

Perhaps another conversation with your GP?

Or a private dermatology appointment?

Argh. I was kind of hoping someone would say things can still get better! I’ve been deficient for many years according to my health records so it could be taking a long time to correct itself.
GP seems relatively uninterested, they weren’t keen on testing me again after 5 months for example. But yes I could try and see if there’s anything else I can have checked maybe.
I have been calm about it most of the time, choosing hope etc, but every now and then, like today, I’ll catch sight of myself in a mirror in a public toilet or something and just feel such despair of how bad it is and panic at how much worse it might get. It’s all consuming at times like that.

Sorry to hear Twoanklebiters my gp is the same

Have you thought about a iron infusion altho expensive ?

It is rubbish and I am sorry to hear how you are feeling

I am really struggling with hair loss too and have been prescribed iron tablets as my ferritin is low and has been for ages.
I was told they will test levels again after 2 months. If they dont improve I am going to have pay for a transfusion privately, might be worth considering OP if you can afford it.

I tried the tablets but then I
Could not poo 😞

It is a nightmare