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Original poster

prescribed iron supplements... has anyone taken them and NOT had side effects?!?

38 replies

AnnaBanana25 · 07/01/2014 18:47

Hi all. Just been informed my iron levels are low and have to pick up a prescription for some iron supplements tomorrow. After looking at historic threads, I'm worried I'll be vomiting all over the place with cramps and maybe a touch of constipation...!!!!

Has anyone taken supplements and not had these horrible side effects?

Has anyone taken floradix as an alternative and had it work, ie bring your iron levels up?

Don't know why but this is making me really panic, I know its a small thing but I really struggle with pills as they make me feel sick at the best of times.

OP posts:
Middleagedmotheroftwo · 07/01/2014 18:50

Me. Never had any side effects at all. Take them with food.

muser31 · 07/01/2014 18:51

they never bothered me either

AlyssInAManger · 07/01/2014 18:52

I'm taking them at the moment and I'm fine.

ancelynthecraven · 07/01/2014 18:53

Feroglobin liquid iron supliment? Tastes yummy and no black poo!

Original poster
AnnaBanana25 · 07/01/2014 18:54

Stupid question. Are they small? If so how small? Are they able to be crushed up? (We are talking pill phobia here!) Thank you :-)

OP posts:
2tired2bewitty · 07/01/2014 18:55

No problems here either Smile

2tired2bewitty · 07/01/2014 18:56

Mine were about the size of a smartie. Not sure about crushing, I'd check with a pharmacist first

LunaticFringe · 07/01/2014 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GreenFirefly · 07/01/2014 19:10

you could get spatone (from boots) which is a iron rich water and supposedly easier absorption than tablets. take in orange juice for best absorption. and to hide the taste.Wink my midwife recommended it after I refused iron tablets following 2nd c-sec.

Original poster
AnnaBanana25 · 07/01/2014 19:59

You guys have really helped out, thank you :-)

OP posts:
StillPukin · 07/01/2014 20:22

I'm on them. Its much smaller than a smartie. I havent had any side effects apart from black poo (sorry tmi), I havent been constipated or anything else.

Honestly, dont worry about them x

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 07/01/2014 20:32

You should never crush tablets. It affects the rate at which your body absorbs them. They are designed to be absorbed at a certain rate, and crushing them would mean that you absorb them too quickly.

CakePunch · 07/01/2014 20:37

I use spartone. It's liquid and tastes okay with orange juice.

Pinkbell123 · 07/01/2014 20:46

I'm on them at the mo and have really loose bowels (sorry tmi). I was expecting to be constipated so no idea what's going on. I hate it but have to get my Hb levels up somehow I suppose.

thingamajig · 07/01/2014 20:49

I've taken them and never has side effects. If you have pill phobia then a liquid is available (I have given it to the babes, just a larger dose I guess). Stains everything bright orange though.

SweepTheHalls · 07/01/2014 20:53

Just a warning, Spatone if you just need a bit of a pick me up for your iron levels, but if you are genuinely low, it won't touch the sides!

TobyLerone · 07/01/2014 20:59

Which tablets do you have, OP?

Ferrous sulphate seem to be the ones with the side effects. I'm on ferrous fumarate, and have had no problems.

Original poster
AnnaBanana25 · 07/01/2014 21:36

sweepthe halls yes I did wonder that about some of the substitutes....

thingamajig the liquid kind that stastains stuff orange, was that prescribed by gp as an alternative to pills?

OP posts:
hoppinghare · 07/01/2014 23:30

I definitely felt much better when I started taking them during all my pregnancies.

Fedup1992 · 08/01/2014 00:41

Blerghhhh I'm low too! They make me sick so not took them. After receiving my results today from fainting nye. My DH is taking me for steak Friday (think it's an excuse for him really as I hate it)

I'm eating breakfast cereals hope that helps boost them up in the next 2 weeks prob not. Xxx

SweepTheHalls · 08/01/2014 07:21

I know, in my first pregnancy, spatone was enough to keep my levels up, so when I became anaemic in the second pregnancy I thought it would be ok to do the same, apparently not when I kept passing out every morning at work! I felt so much better once I I started on the decent stuff.

thekingfisher · 08/01/2014 07:23

spatone doesn't contain the same levels as the iron supplements tablets you get from the Dr although check with your chemist as they can substitute them for ones that are easier to digest. Speak to yr pharmacist and they can advise.

tmae · 08/01/2014 07:44

I was on ferrous sulphate and that made me throw up so they put me on pregaday, which is ferrous fumarate and folic acid and have only had problems if I forget to take them before I eat and take them after a meal but they have raised my iron to good levels. Also they aren't huge, I'm funny with pills too but have been fine taking these ones.

PinkandPoo · 08/01/2014 11:22

I'm on iron tablets and I've had to stop taking them as they make me feel so ill. I've had really bad diarrhoea and felt constantly sick on them :(

I've got some spatone which I'm handling better and I hope it helps a bit. My iron levels are only a little bit low so I'm hoping it'll be ok....

Original poster
AnnaBanana25 · 08/01/2014 12:06

Really pleased as they easily changed my prescription to oral solution, it is ferrous fumerate. Here we go then!

OP posts:
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