Iron tablets causing major tummy upset

[OutPinked]

I’ve taken them in my previous pregnancies and had similar issues so was dreading it this time when they were prescribed after 28 week bloods. I took them for three days (two a day as prescribed) with fresh OJ and my guts have been majorly off. Diarrhoea and nausea.

I can’t handle it anymore. I’ve taken spatone today instead and I’ve upped my iron intake through my diet (vegetarian so lots more green veggies, beans etc). Will this suffice? I have history of PPH so need to keep my iron levels high.

What kind of iron tablets are they?
Ferrous sulphate always played havoc with my digestion.
Tell doc to prescribe you either ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate. I've found them to be much gentler in the tum.

I've been taking spatone too and I find them
Much better that the bog standard iron tablets. Not making me as bunged up and much easier to drink rather than take the massive bricks that are pregnancy iron tablets

I’m not a medic, but I think the issue is that the dose in the prescribed iron is massively higher than anything you can ever buy over the counter. So if you don’t take the higher dose you risk not treating the anemia. I would speak to the dr again though to see if there’s an alternative as the side effects sound grim.

Should you not bring this up with your GP? Maybe they could swap you to a different type of iron tablet, or recommend you to reduce the dose? I'm on ferrous furmate, and have been long before I got pregnant. I was on 3 a day, but reduced it to 1 a day when pregnant on the advice of my consultant and my iron levels have been fine. I usually take mine in the morning with a glass of orange juice and my breakfast.

Another vote for spatone...saved me in pregnancy as I had the same issue but do ensure your levels are regularly monitored and talk to the doc

I had the same problems with iron tablets, was sent home with them after having my son. A friend recommended Floradix to me, tastes horrible but didn't upset my stomach at all, I just used to hold my nose & get it down as quick as I could with something nice after to get rid of the taste.

Yes, it’s ferrous sulphate. I may have to see the GP then to see if they can prescribe the alternatives if spatone won’t be enough... I have also heard good things about floradix so was considering trying that. I can’t live with the side effects of ferrous sulphate at all and I know it won’t get better over time, it never does for me.

Floradix is great and hasn’t caused me any tummy issues at all.

@Nightmanagerfan you can buy ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate and ferrous gluconate from a pharmacy without a prescription.

You do have to explain to the pharmacist why you need it.

The first time I got it without a prescription was due to turning up with a prescription that I had to pay for and the pharmacist in Boots telling me it was cheaper without. Then when I needed a repeat I just told the pharmacist in Asda that I was iron deficient and she sold them to me.

Ferrous gluconate was much easier on the tummy for me, I couldn't tolerate either of the others

I used to take liquid in orange juice. Please always ask a medical professional before you take anything when pregnant.

OP if your GP refuses to prescribe ferrous fumerate, which costs the same amount to the NHS as ferrous sulphate, then see if you can buy your own.

As a PP said Spatone, floradix and the others do not contain enough iron in them for someone with iron deficiency. One ferrous fumerate or ferrous sulphate tablet contains something like 3-4 times as much elemental iron as the total daily doses of spatone, floradix, etc.

Also the best sources of iron from food is red meat. If you aren't pregnant liver is even better. However as a pregnant woman you can't have it due to it's high vitamin A content.

You don't need them as long as you are eating a healthy diet. I never took iron tablets during pregnancy, was never iron deficient and child health good. I did eat well including eating things I wouldn't have considered before I was pregnant.

My diet is balanced and healthy rebecca but my iron still came back as low at the 28 week blood test so was prescribed ferrous sulphate.

I didn’t realise you could buy the tablets from the pharmacy without a prescription! Will try that, thanks.

I will ask a pharmacist tomorrow. I’m a veggie so red meat is out. I’ve been eating plenty of greens, fortified cereal and beans throughout pregnancy. It was great at the booking appointment but always naturally takes a tumble by this stage.