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Original poster

Expired iron tablets

19 replies

weirddolls · 20/05/2023 14:37

About 2 years ago I was prescribed ferrous fumarate tablets as I was found to have slightly low iron levels. Took a few but they made me constipated and have been sat in a drawer ever since 😳. I've changed my diet a bit and don't seem to get constipated as easily as before, and I'm looking a bit pale so I want to give iron another go. The tablets expired in December 2021 though. Will they still be any use?

OP posts:
Monkeypuzzlegane · 20/05/2023 21:26

I wouldn’t take them. The iron won’t be as effective and there could be some bi products created over time. You can buy iron from the pharmacy that you get on prescription

marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 22:32

Just buy some iron tablets from boots

marshmallowmatcha · 20/05/2023 22:32

They might have like rusted or something

ArucanaWing · 20/05/2023 22:34

I’m sure if you contacted your surgery they would prescribe some in date ones.

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 21/05/2023 01:03

Just buy some iron tablets from boots

Iron tablets from Boots contain 14 mg of ferrous fumarate. Their "max strength" iron capsules contain 20 mg ferrous bisglycinate. They are intended to supplement a diet that might not contain enough iron, not to correct severe deficiency. Prescribed tablets contain 210 mg ferrous fumarate and capsules contain 350 mg. If you are clinically anaemic, over-the-counter tablets will be little or no help.

LimeMango · 21/05/2023 21:29

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 21/05/2023 01:03

Just buy some iron tablets from boots

Iron tablets from Boots contain 14 mg of ferrous fumarate. Their "max strength" iron capsules contain 20 mg ferrous bisglycinate. They are intended to supplement a diet that might not contain enough iron, not to correct severe deficiency. Prescribed tablets contain 210 mg ferrous fumarate and capsules contain 350 mg. If you are clinically anaemic, over-the-counter tablets will be little or no help.

You can buy them from over the counter, and they’re much cheaper than on prescription that way. When I had to take some my GP just wrote down the options on a piece of paper and I took that to the pharmacy, and it cost me about £3. In this situation OP could just take her expired box to the pharmacy and ask for the same again.

“Adv OTC ferrous sulphate 200mg tds or ferrous fumarate 305mg bd for 6w. “ — that’s a quote from my GP’s notes about my appointment. 100% you don’t need a prescription to get it.

Reugny · 21/05/2023 21:33

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 21/05/2023 01:03

Just buy some iron tablets from boots

Iron tablets from Boots contain 14 mg of ferrous fumarate. Their "max strength" iron capsules contain 20 mg ferrous bisglycinate. They are intended to supplement a diet that might not contain enough iron, not to correct severe deficiency. Prescribed tablets contain 210 mg ferrous fumarate and capsules contain 350 mg. If you are clinically anaemic, over-the-counter tablets will be little or no help.

I once got a prescription from my GP for iron tablets. The pharmacist at Boots asked me if I paid for my prescriptions and as I did he sold me some for far less than the prescription cost.

Then the next time I needed iron tablets I just asked the pharmacist for them. Though this time it was at Asda.

BlooberryBiskits · 21/05/2023 21:39

OP - those iron tablets will be fine to use still

Monkeypuzzlegane · 21/05/2023 22:38

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne theres a difference between OTC, P and POM. Iron tablets can be POM and P….you can buy them at the pharmacy without a prescription but not OTC

@BlooberryBiskits any chance you did the shelf life testing to look at the degradation? Trust me, if they could put a longer expiration on a product they 100% would but it’s there because on stability testing it showed out of specification results. Less effective and potentially dangerous

QueenOfHiraeth · 21/05/2023 22:40

ArucanaWing · 20/05/2023 22:34

I’m sure if you contacted your surgery they would prescribe some in date ones.

Why ask the NHS for something you can buy cheaply from any pharmacy?

BlooberryBiskits · 21/05/2023 23:03

@Monkeypuzzlegane : agree on less effective, these particular tablets will not be dangerous 🙄

Plus you seem well informed and therefore will be aware that stability testing and actual IRL conditions are not the same

Monkeypuzzlegane · 21/05/2023 23:59

@BlooberryBiskits so what’s the point of stability testing if it’s not mimicking real life conditions. Having something stored at 25C/60RH is pretty close? Maybe you want to write to the MHRA or WHO that what they assess their medical license against are not like real life and should change this? The regulations should maybe be changed then.

Granted iron is unlikely to be dangerous but setting a precedent its safety to take expired medicines is. I’ve seen complaints from the general public and they will take your comment as a sweeping statement it’s safe to take any medication expired. The general public doesn’t understand difference between tablets and liquid risks. Someone might come across this thread and take expired liquid iron, which carried massive risk of overdosing due to segregation or micro contamination.

ArucanaWing · 22/05/2023 06:39

QueenOfHiraeth · 21/05/2023 22:40

Why ask the NHS for something you can buy cheaply from any pharmacy?

Show quote history

The prescription iron tablets are significantly different in their level of iron content and are therefore only available on prescription. Over the counter iron tablets and spa tone etc are for people wanting to make sure they get enough iron in their diet. Prescription iron tablets are for people who are iron anaemic without them and usage needs monitoring, as too much iron in your system is also bad for you.

Monkeypuzzlegane · 22/05/2023 07:38

@ArucanaWing I am anaemic you can buy the exact same tablets from the pharmacy (not OTC) as you can get on prescription they are both P and POM. Not POM only. It’s about £3-4 for a pack so cheaper than getting on prescription. They ask if you have had before explain your anaemic and off you go.

letsgojo · 22/05/2023 07:47

Don't take out of date medicine!

seven201 · 22/05/2023 07:53

You can buy ferrous sulphate, same as your prescription, from a pharmacist without a prescription. I've done it before.

ArucanaWing · 22/05/2023 08:33

So you can! I’m really surprised by that! Maybe it’s my other health issues but my iron levels are monitored very closely and the number of tablets I take daily altered depending on the regular blood test results. So it feels a bit risky to me to just self medicate them. I’ve learnt something new today.

QueenOfHiraeth · 22/05/2023 23:47

ArucanaWing · 22/05/2023 06:39

The prescription iron tablets are significantly different in their level of iron content and are therefore only available on prescription. Over the counter iron tablets and spa tone etc are for people wanting to make sure they get enough iron in their diet. Prescription iron tablets are for people who are iron anaemic without them and usage needs monitoring, as too much iron in your system is also bad for you.

Show quote history

You are wrong. The items you mention are sold from the shop shelves but tablets like ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate can be sold at the dispensary or chemist counter. They are exactly the same as you get on prescription and are considerably cheaper than a prescription charge

QueenOfHiraeth · 22/05/2023 23:47

Sorry late reply and did not see the earlier ones!

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