Iron tablets - Black Poop

[OnNaturesCourse]

Has anyone experienced this?

I've been on 3 tablets a day for about 10 days now.

Will phone GP on Monday, just want to figure out if a call to 111 is needed?

It's completely normal, don't worry.

Very well-known side effect 😁

Yep, I had this when I was on them post birth. Apparently very normal

No you don't need to phone GP or 111, it's an expected side effect! When I was prescribed them my GP said your poo will turn black, don't worry about it, it's absolutely normal!

Completely normal

Alarming but normal.

It’s very normal and will be in the leaflet of side effects. Ease off them. You might need another form eg liquid.
I got nasty stomach cramps and the same the first time I got the tablets.

Completely normal. Been on them for about 5 years now and had black poop the entire time. Just been told to stop taking them about a week
ago. So weird to see brown instead of black

Thank you all.

The NHS site says it will get darker and that's OK but then goes on to say phone 111 if it turns black.

Helpful!

Interestingly, its not black, if you look carefully (bleugh), its very dark green.

Dont ask me how I know this.

Totally normal. It's a really dark green. Gross !

I dunno. I accidentally shit myself once and it was definitely black. Like tar

I’m a nurse, this is absolutely normal. X

it is fine. I was told to take less as often our bodies find it hard to absorb 3 a day and so actually 1 a day was absorbed better. (not medical advice for you, just what I was told - so something to ask about if gastro symptoms are bad)

Also I sometimes use spatone instead

Your liver absorbs what it can ( not all iron is bio available) and the excess iron just comes out in your bile. It the excess iron that makes your poo black.
So if your blood iron isnt going up but your are getting the black poo it means you arent absorbing it or it isn't in the best form for your body.

Thank you.

I only boarder line needed the tablets so I wonder if my levels are rising or have risen enough now.

I still feel pretty crappy like dizzy when standing etc. No gastro symptoms other than a bit more gas but I'm typically like that post birth anyway.

I was put on these tablets as I hemorrhaged post birth (MM at 16w)

Theres a liquid iron supplement which is much kinder on your stomach and easily absorbed. I think its called ferroglobin

Theres a liquid iron supplement which is much kinder on your stomach and easily absorbed. I think its called ferroglobin

That's a supplement, really. There's not enough iron in ferroglobin to really treat anaemia. It's something like 11 or 17mg. Whereas the ferrous sulphate tablets that I took twice a day were 65mg each - and I took them for six months.

I got on fine with ferrous sulphate so long as I took them on an empty stomach.

I never took them again after I sharted when taking post-birth!

I was told to take iron tablets with orange juice as it helps absorption. Poo definitely went darker on iron tablets.

Yes! I'm experiencing this right now from taking iron tablets during pregnancy. I was so freaked out at first but I asked my midwife who said it's totally normal.

Evil things they make me not able to go to the toilet and when I can it's painful and stomach constantly in pain but definitely black/dark green 🫨

If you cant tolerate the iron sulphate tablets (the cheapest) then you can ask for other forms which are kinder on the stomach ferrous folate etc but they are more expensive

Mine was green when I had to take them through pregnancy

I’ve finished taking iron, it’s been a week now. My stool is still dark, abit concerned