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Iron tablets help

10 replies

passmeaglass · 02/10/2025 19:07

I’ve searched old threads but can’t see anything definitive. Does anyone have any recommendations for iron tablets? Got a call with gp tomorrow and I can either see what they prescribe or source my own. I’ve heard about some nasty side effects hence trying to do some research so I get the best ones. My ferritin is at 28 having risen from 27 6 weeks ago.Thanks

OP posts:
OhTheProblemIsDefinitelyMe · 02/10/2025 19:11

Prescription iron has awful side effects.

Iron bisglycinate has fewer side effects and has better bioavailability. I was on prescription iron for years but got my levels higher with a supplement I buy off Amazon.
Ive also started taking beef liver capsules, they are high in iron. Managed to get my iron in the 50’s for the first time in decades!
I will go and get links and pop back.

vincettenoir · 02/10/2025 19:18

I take ferrous fumarate. I tolerate it well and it has helped my symptoms a lot. I switched from ferrous sulphate which I think most people get on better with. Neither are on prescription, I just ask the chemist.

Greybeardy · 02/10/2025 19:19

not everyone gets terrible side effects. Taking the tablets once a day/every other day/every few days can reduce the SEs if you do get them (the problems come from taking enough iron to saturate the body's ability to absorb it which leaves a load of iron sitting in the intestines and causing irritation.... if you take less, it can mean you absorb more and have fewer side effects).

DisplayPurposesOnly · 02/10/2025 19:39

not everyone gets terrible side effects

This. I got on fine with ferrous sulphate so long as I took them on a empty stomach. Try it and see how you get on.

passmeaglass · 03/10/2025 10:05

Thanks all feeling better informed for my conversation with the doctor!

OP posts:
VaseOfPeonies · 03/10/2025 10:24

OhTheProblemIsDefinitelyMe · 02/10/2025 19:11

Prescription iron has awful side effects.

Iron bisglycinate has fewer side effects and has better bioavailability. I was on prescription iron for years but got my levels higher with a supplement I buy off Amazon.
Ive also started taking beef liver capsules, they are high in iron. Managed to get my iron in the 50’s for the first time in decades!
I will go and get links and pop back.

Seconding iron bisglycinate.

DD was prescribed 200mg ferrous fumerate by the GP when her blood tests showed low iron/ferritin. She found she got digestive issues on that. I looked for more absorbable forms of iron and iron bisglycinate looked like the best from that point of view. (Apparently it's unabsorbed iron which causes the digestive issues which many people get with iron supplements - so the more absorbable/bioavailable it is, the better, from that point of view.)

Iron bisglycinate was approximately twice as absorbable as ferrous fumerate, according to the studies I read. So we started DD on a 50mg dose (just to check whether she was OK on it) and then upped it to 100mg, and then 150mg. Her iron and ferritin improved well on that, although it took months, and she had no bad digestive effects.

We got ours from Bodykind but I'm sure there are other good possibilities:

www.bodykind.com/supplements-c11/minerals-c52/iron-c97/vega-vitamins-iron-bisglycinate-60-x-50mg-capsules-p1930

Other stuff I found out while looking into this:

Taking it with vitamin C improves absorption.
Taking it with anything containing calcium (e.g. milk products) impedes absorption.
The latest thinking seems to be that taking it every other day, instead of every day, actually gives better results, for some reason. (Same dose, not doubling the dose). This seems really weird to me. It does appear to have scientific backing, but to be honest I just ignored this because it seemed so counter-intuitive, so I got DD to take the supplements every day. But thought it was worth mentioning.

AmpleLilacQuail · 03/10/2025 10:33

I am also fine with ferrous fumarate and ferrous sulphate, but if you aren’t then look for gentle iron. Take with vit c, and avoid dairy and caffeine for a couple of hours either side.

Don’t bother with spatone, a lot on here will recommend it but it’s expensive and there’s not much iron in it.

Sugarahhoneyhoney · 03/10/2025 19:36

VaseOfPeonies · 03/10/2025 10:24

Seconding iron bisglycinate.

DD was prescribed 200mg ferrous fumerate by the GP when her blood tests showed low iron/ferritin. She found she got digestive issues on that. I looked for more absorbable forms of iron and iron bisglycinate looked like the best from that point of view. (Apparently it's unabsorbed iron which causes the digestive issues which many people get with iron supplements - so the more absorbable/bioavailable it is, the better, from that point of view.)

Iron bisglycinate was approximately twice as absorbable as ferrous fumerate, according to the studies I read. So we started DD on a 50mg dose (just to check whether she was OK on it) and then upped it to 100mg, and then 150mg. Her iron and ferritin improved well on that, although it took months, and she had no bad digestive effects.

We got ours from Bodykind but I'm sure there are other good possibilities:

www.bodykind.com/supplements-c11/minerals-c52/iron-c97/vega-vitamins-iron-bisglycinate-60-x-50mg-capsules-p1930

Other stuff I found out while looking into this:

Taking it with vitamin C improves absorption.
Taking it with anything containing calcium (e.g. milk products) impedes absorption.
The latest thinking seems to be that taking it every other day, instead of every day, actually gives better results, for some reason. (Same dose, not doubling the dose). This seems really weird to me. It does appear to have scientific backing, but to be honest I just ignored this because it seemed so counter-intuitive, so I got DD to take the supplements every day. But thought it was worth mentioning.

Every day worked significantly better for me. GP recommended it. You can only absorb so much iron in 48hrs. So taking more and more frequently doesn't mean you will absorb any more.

I took mine every two days, with high strength vitamin C tablet, two hours before any food and drink at 5am which is when I get up. My ferritin went from 17 to 118 in 6 months (plus a mirena coil so I stopped bleeding as much).

No gastric issues with ferrous sulphate.

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