Do iron tablets always work?

[thingymaboob]

I was diagnosed with anaemia at 18 weeks and have been taking 2 x pregaday ever since (ferrous fumarate & folic acid). I don't feel any better, I actually feel worse. Has anyone continued to be anaemic even when they're being treated?

How are you taking them? You are meant to avoid taking them when you've drank milk/coffee, better to take them with orange juice so your body will soak them up better. Also, try and eat some cereal high in iron/more iron in your diet.

I've been on 2 per day since 28 weeks and my levels had gone from 9.7 to 11.5. They should recheck you at some point- you can always ask in your next midwife appointment for them to take your blood.

TMI question but a good sign your body is soaking it up is black stools....

Spatone is great, has less iron but is absorbed more easily than tablets. You can get from Amazon

You need to take them with vit c (orange juice) and also not with calcium.
And reduce tea and coffee consumption.
It took me 4-6 weeks of this to notice a difference.

Another thing, it might be better to take one thing instead of lots of different vitamins - so 2 x ferrous fummerate, so your body isn't trying to soak up too much stuff - folic acid isn't really needed after 12 weeks.

They do make you feel better Thingy but not 100% and they have horrendous side effects. If you find them too harsh ask you GP if you can try "Ferrous Gluconate" they are much less harsh with the side effects and is never heard of them because I've always been given ferrous sulphate (which makes me feel worse than I did in the first place!)

The reason I haven't heard of them? My GP admitted they don't like dishing them out because they are "very expensive" and "cost the NHS a lot" I said I don't give a hoot what they cost I've paid my taxes and NI all my bloody working life!

But if you are having side effects deffo see the GP they should offer to try you on different ones until one suits you. You can even get liquid form

@sthitch the pills I have been given by the obstetrician is a combination of iron and folic acid. I'm not taking it separately. They come as one pill called pregaday

Didn't work for me
Ended up having an infusion while pregnant
Which again was supposed to give a huge boost to the stores
Still didn't
Think they have given up on me now