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Original poster

Spatone- can I take 2 sachets?

62 replies

Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 19:21

Hi
I’ve got low iron (8 UMOLS) and GP prescribed me iron tablets which I didn’t collect and instead wanted to up my iron intake with diet and spatone.

However, instructions state only take one sachet a day unless you’re pregnant (I’m not) but DH says one sachet will be to maintain your iron....not if you want to up your level and you’re anaemic.

Anyone just take two or will it be too much?
I’ve messaged Spatone yesterday on multiple social media accounts but no reply as yet.

OP posts:
purplesequins · 15/02/2022 19:23

it's no enough.

get the prescribed tablets.
you will feel so much better once your iton is up a bit.

CorrBlimeyGG · 15/02/2022 19:27

You're not going to get a therapeutic dose from spatone.

CottonSock · 15/02/2022 19:29

It's an iron flavoured drink. Get some tablets.

EarringsandLipstick · 15/02/2022 19:35

Spatone does not have enough it

EarringsandLipstick · 15/02/2022 19:36

Sorry! Posted in error.

Spatone doesn't have enough iron. You need to take tablets.

Taking two sachets will do no harm. Nor will it help.

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 20:13

But I’ve read so many people who can’t tolerate iron tablets (I can’t) take spatone.
I’m eating dried apricots, raisins, green veg, pumpkin & sunflower seeds, seeded brown bread, jacket potatoes skin on, bran flakes, porridge - so all high iron foods.
I’m veggie now and have been vegan for the past 2 years.
I really can’t take iron tablets.

OP posts:
Rickrollme · 15/02/2022 20:15

What have been the side effects when you’ve taken iron in the past? What did your doctor suggest when you brought it up?

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 20:19

The doctor didn’t see me. He text me the results telling me to pick up the prescription at boots.
The text didn’t even tell me what the level was - just that I had significant iron deficiency.
It was only because I went and got my blood results printed off that I know it’s 8.
Iron tablets make me extremely constipated and aggravate my stomach/make me nauseous.

OP posts:
Noappointmentnecessary · 15/02/2022 20:23

I went to a health shop to buy more spa tone and the lady was really helpful. Basically, there isn't alot of iron in these sachets. The best iron supplement is floradix.

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 20:24

How do I take floradix? It’s syrup isn’t it? I’ll have a google.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 15/02/2022 20:28

Floradix tastes vile, once open your keep it in the fridge and swigged near it's palatable.

I always felt much better within 2 weeks of starting it and no constipation!

RandomMess · 15/02/2022 20:30

Swigged NEAT out the bottle is what I meant.

Wordlewobble · 15/02/2022 20:32

I am on Ferrous Sulphate and instead of taking it every day you now have to take it 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The stomach problems are less bad this time around too. You can also purchase Ferrous Sulphate over the counter without a prescription.

McClary111 · 15/02/2022 20:37

I was booked for an iron transfusion as my iron was so low (pregnancy). But I didn’t want one due to the risks. I could not keep any iron medicine or tablets down. I took 3 x spatone a day in beetroot juice , the hospital advised it would not work but will do no harm. They were very surprised at how much my levels had increased within two weeks. My levels increased to an acceptable level.

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 21:09

Thanks so much everyone.
That’s really interesting McClary111 - I also read because spatone is so easily absorbed, it’s really good for increasing iron levels.

However, I’ve just bought some Vitabiotics Ferroglobin capsules - gentle iron slow release. Compared to spatone with 5mg, these have 17mg so I think it’ll work much better if it doesn’t make me poorly.

I have total exhaustion and even going upstairs makes me need a rest so I defo think the more the better - just didn’t want to get mega constipated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 21:10

McClary111 can I ask what are the risks of iron transfusion? Do you mean iron injections or an actual blood transfusion?

OP posts:
Koala817263549 · 15/02/2022 21:14

These are great! Can get them from lots of supermarkets, boots, Amazon. betteryou.com/collections/iron-supplements/products/iron-10-oral-spray

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 21:16

Thanks koala. 7mg less than the new tablets I’ve ordered but I did see about spray iron and might consider that once my levels are up to maintain.

OP posts:
purplesequins · 15/02/2022 21:22

iron infusion is given in a hospital as an outpatient.

with iron infusion there is a (small) risk of an allergic reaction.

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 21:30

purplesequins is it given as a blood transfusion then? Or just injection iron?

OP posts:
CorsicaDreaming · 15/02/2022 21:34

@RandomMess

Floradix tastes vile, once open your keep it in the fridge and swigged near it's palatable.

I always felt much better within 2 weeks of starting it and no constipation!

This really is personal taste - I like the taste of it.

You are meant to keep in fridge once opened though

AnnaMagnani · 15/02/2022 21:46

You need proper prescription level iron tablets - Spatone or Floradix dont have the side effects because they don't have the same amount of iron.

8 is not a lot of iron - it's supposed to be over 70. You'll be taking Spatone until you are 100 to get there.

However the good news is:

  1. Recent evidence is that you absorb more iron from the prescription tablets taking them once a day or every other day than 3 times a day as recommended in the past - so far less side effects
  2. You can try different prescription iron tablets and find which suits you best - ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumerate, ferrous gluconate
  3. The side effects usually wear off if you stick with the tablets
  4. You absorb far more iron if you take them in the morning, on an empty stomach with some Vit C eg a glass of orange juice
EarringsandLipstick · 15/02/2022 22:10

@AnnaMagnani

You need proper prescription level iron tablets - Spatone or Floradix dont have the side effects because they don't have the same amount of iron.

8 is not a lot of iron - it's supposed to be over 70. You'll be taking Spatone until you are 100 to get there.

However the good news is:

  1. Recent evidence is that you absorb more iron from the prescription tablets taking them once a day or every other day than 3 times a day as recommended in the past - so far less side effects
  2. You can try different prescription iron tablets and find which suits you best - ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumerate, ferrous gluconate
  3. The side effects usually wear off if you stick with the tablets
  4. You absorb far more iron if you take them in the morning, on an empty stomach with some Vit C eg a glass of orange juice
Excellent advice.

OP to say you are so low in iron that you are exhausted going upstairs, means you really need to address this. As this post illustrates, there are ways around the side effects. It's just silly to say 'I can't take tablets'.

Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 22:45

AnnaMagani not sure which measurements you’re going by but my iron is 8 MMOLs and it’s supposed to be between 11-30 I think.

I may have written 8 UMOLs which might be something else - not sure.

Not sure what you mean when you said it should be over 100?
Or am i getting mixed up with haemoglobin and iron?
Whichever it is, it’s supposed to be 11 or higher and mine is defo 8.

The ones I’ve ordered are ferrous fumerate with B12 and zinc and copper. I thought I had read that zinc inhibits iron uptake but Vitabiotics should know what they’re doing.
The package says take on a full stomach with your main meal, compared to spatone first thing on empty stomach and don’t eat for 30 mins.

OP posts:
Original poster
Verbena17 · 15/02/2022 22:47

earrings&lipsticks I don’t mean to sound ‘silly’ but a cute constipation after a csection wasn’t pleasant! Saying that, it was over 20 years ago but sooo many people won’t take prescription iron because if the side effects. Anyway, hopefully the new tablets when they arrive, will be just the job. I’m currently falling asleep eating my lunch!

OP posts: