Iron tablets

[MeredithGrey1]

I’ve been put on iron tablets after my 28 week blood test showed low iron. I have to take 2 tablets a day. I know you should take with something like orange juice to help with absorption and shouldn’t take with milk/calcium as that can inhibit absorption. Things I’ve read online have said to avoid milk and calcium for two hours either side of taking the tablet - how strict does that need to be? Obviously I’m not drinking a glass of milk or having a yoghurt right after a taking a tablet, but is something like a biscuit, which contains butter as an ingredient also a no? Or am I just over worrying and as long as I avoid taking it within two hours of my milky cereal for breakfast, it will be fine? Im pretty sure I’m over thinking, but the tablets are a bit hard on my stomach so I really don’t want to be taking them and it not even working because I’m not avoiding dairy enough!

Not answering your question but Spatone iron water was brilliant for me. Got my iron levels right back up and had no side effects at all. In Boots/supermarkets.

Have just been prescribed iron supplements three times a day. I took the first tablet and was violently sick for the next few hours. Any tips for minimising sickness very welcome!

@TooInquisitive did you take them on an empty stomach, or with food? If it was an empty stomach, try taking with some food.

I'm on iron tablets. I have to eat when I take them otherwise I feel really sick- even if only a slice of toast.

Re dairy I interpret it as things like milk, cheese and yoghurt. Other stuff you should be fine with.

Anything with vitamin c in aids absorption, hence the orange juice.
Anything with calcium reduces absorption so best not to take with a glass of mil or a yoghurt but no need to not have mild in your tea.

@toolnquisitive I couldn't take iron tablets - they give me horrendous stomach issues and constipation. I was anaemic for years until discovering Spatone as mentioned by a PP.

I took 2 sachets a day (way less than the tablets) in a glass of warm water with an effervescent vitamin c and a splash of lemon juice and it sorted my levels out. My GP was very surprised because the dose is so much lower but it must be about the form it is in, the fact that it doesn't upset my stomach and/or the vitamin C that I take with it. Once sorted I now take 1 sachet a day.
I had a gastric bypass so have a low food (especially red meat) intake and reduced absorption so have looked quite a lot into the best sort of supplements to take

I would suggest looking into ones with Vitamin C included. I was taking galfur iron tablets when I was pregnant and they made me very ill. They barely raised my iron level at all. My midwife suggested ones called Ferrograd C which have Vitamin C included with it. My Hb level went to 13.2 with no conscious effort to avoid dairy whatsoever, in fact I usually took them after my morning cereal. I've never had a level above 11.5 before in my life so they certainly worked for me!! Much, much easier on the stomach also and I didn't feel any sickness as long as I took them after eating.

I've been on them since 28 weeks. I was suffering severe breathlessness caused by the low iron. I have my breakfast in the morning @ 6.20 then take my iron as I'm going out the door an hour later. My second one I take just before bed. I felt a huge improvement in my symptoms after a week and haven't had any sickness from them