Iron tablet side effects!!

[lucywiltshire]

I am on iron tablets and they are playing havoc with my bowels! Not constipation which most people seem to suffer with but needing to do an explosive poo 4 times a day! If I can't get to the loo I suffer awful cramps, and when I go I am using a whole roll of loo paper to clean up! Sorry for the gruesome detail but it is all starting to drive me a bit insane so I am hoping some other people have the same side effect and can offer me some advice on how to best deal with it!!

I started on iron tablets a few years ago, and it took me a while to find ones that agreed with me. For instance - Asda's brand made me ill but I'm fine with Boots or Tesco. It does settle down as well! I was on 3 a day, but the beneficial effects were almost instant. My bowls are near normal and I'm nie on one a day.

Rejoice in your black poo, for the extra energy is worth it!

A couple of years ago I was taking iron tablets and just had the usual constipation. Last autumn I had to take another lot and this time the result was exactly as you described. It may be worth discussing it with your pharmacist as there may be different preparations of iron with different effect. This was my plan but fortunately I was able to stop taking them before I actioned it.

I had one day of iron tablets for mild anaemia before digestive/bowel side effects had me researching alternatives. So now I use the Spatone liquid supplements, only twice a day and there are zero side effects as the absorption rate is much higher (40% as opposed to the tablets 10%). Much kinder to the whole digestive system! Boots usually have a 3 for 2 offer on them. Grates me that I have to pay for them, but those NHS prescription tablets are the devils work...

I second the Spatone sachets-I have IBS and my midwife said that Id have a rubbish time on them. My iron levels improved and I didnt have to take anything that would upset my tum. You can get the Spatone sachets plain and apple flavoured too.

Thanks so much, I am going to speak to a pharmacist on Monday morning and start the Spatone as really not sure I can stand much more of the pills prescribed by the doc!

What about floradix? Amazing stuff in my opinion. Very gentle on the tum.