Correct way to take iron tablets

[Wombat27A]

Was told to pick up a prescription of iron tablets, as my iron levels are low.

Asked the pharmacist if it would interfere with other tablets and when to take, etc. He said no problems and to take with food.

Read the leaflet and it says it does affect uptake of levothyroxine and to take on an empty stomach. No caffeine at the same time.

Read the NHS guidelines and it says empty stomach before meals.

I'm now trying to jiggle 5 pills a day (1 thyroxine, 3 iron, 1 statin at night) and food intake and my poor little brain is fried by the inconsistant information.

Is there a correct way to take iron supplements? Ferrous Fuminate (sp?) The pharmacist also said to take 2 and the box says 3.

Should I have a blood test after 4 weeks like the Nice guidelines suggest? GP said to take for 3 months.

I've done a search for this but most posts are about iron in preganancy, I'm menopausal and definitely not pregnant.

Thanks @HundredMilesAnHour
I will have a read of The Iron Protocol too, I obviously have a lot of learning to do to make sure all goes smoothly.

I have picked up some Ferrous Sulphate and have started to introduce healthy bacteria back into my gut. Vitamin C/orange juice at the ready, will start the iron in a few days once my stomach feels more stable. I'm not going to take 2 or 3 doses of 200mg, I'm intending to take 1 tablet every other day, after having read the research.

You might want a different iron compound? it like magnesium, some are more bio-available than others.

Thanks OP for posting as I may be about to be prescribed this so placemarking to save these helpful replies

Sorry Wombat - I was only aware of either ferrous sulphate or ferrous fuminate available via chemists? From trying to decipher the Zimmerman research, the findings seemed to suggest side effects were more or less inevitable, especially if taken on an empty stomach as is advised. It says you can therefore take with a meal, with orange juice to somewhat offset the lower absorption. Maybe I've misunderstood. I was thinking tablet with OJ 1st thing, wait for as long as is possible, then have breakfast etc.
This, combined with HRT joy and trying to manage my gut symptoms (!) is sending me slightly doolally! 😂

I got the fuminate but on prescription.

Yeah, I juggle hrt, iron, thyroid...trying to keep my blood pressure down as another pill would send me over the edge.

There is a funny piece by Adrian Chiles in the Guardian about pill taking...

I have to pay for mine so was much cheaper to just pick some up from the chemist at £2 odd.

Just read it, thanks for the laugh! Don't think I need a pill box, although I have just realised I've forgotten to start my Utrogestan on the 11th so I'm obviously in need of some sort of life coach a la Jiminy Cricket! 😁

I started taking iron tablets prescribed by the doctor after a blood test came back showing I'm anaemic. I'm taking 3 a day. Doctor was asking lots of questions about my menstrual cycle and asked if I ever had spotting to which I replied no. And then, today, I did. Its never happened before. I've looked everywhere to see if this could be a side effect of taking the iron tablets which I started yesterday. Just seems like a really strange coincidence but I cant really find much evidence to support it

Apparently my ferritin level is 4 but all I have been given is some ferrous sulphate to take. I was told to take it with a glass of OJ for the vit C but would taking a vit c tablet at the same time be better?