Low Iron - Supplement Prescribed

[Jsnb9319]

Hi Ladies

Post 28 week blood test and I have low iron.

The midwife told me to buy ferrous sulfate 200mg and that I don't need a prescription for this.

I then saw the consultant who gave me a prescription for it. After waiting 50 minutes (!!) in the hospital Boots for my prescription, I was given 7 days worth.... does anyone know if I can just buy this behind the counter or will need a prescription?

I will probably pop out to a bigger boots this afternoon to see and if not I am back in the hospital tomorrow for Anti-D with the midwives so will ask again then but just wondered if anyone had bought it?

I have done some googling and can see it can be bought online but always a tad sceptical of this as don't want to end up with something dodgy, and on Lloyds pharmacy website it says can only be given with a prescription.

Thank you in advance!

They really should of prescribed you a 3 month supply. However if you go into boots and ask at the pharmacy they will sell you the correct thing.

That’s ridiculous. Anaemia is a medical condition & you should get it prescribed! Particularly as you are likely to need it until birth & entitled to free prescriptions! I’ve never heard anyone be told to just go buy it before

Midwives don’t prescribe, you do need to see your GP. My midwife told me to call my doctors and when I did, the receptionist told me a doctor would write me a prescription & I picked of up later that day.

Please do contact your GP & get yourself a 3 month supply for free!

Same as pp my midwife put a prescription in for me with GP and I picked it up the following day I'm on 3 iron tablets a day and have been given 84 tablets but will get repeat prescription when they run out/low. I've also had to have repeat bloods done and I'm now having to be on tablets till after birth.

I would speak with your midwife as they shouldn't really be telling you to just buy it over the counter as you will need a certain amount depending on how low your levels are. X

Thanks all. Yeah if I can get it for free i'd rather be doing that but happy to buy it if needed. I'll call my midwife and see what can be done.

The midwife told me that the government are moving away from prescribing supplements so that's why she said I will be able to just buy it.

Tbh, the prescription that was written was so scribbly, more than one lady in the pharmacy asked to check the dose in my notes so for all I know it might have been prescribed for longer and they just couldn't read the consultants writing

I’ve had prescriptions from consultants in the past & they tend to give you a small dose and tell you that you need to follow up with your GP for more. So possibly what’s happened here..

I do understand moving away from prescribing supplements if you need a regular dose but anaemia requires high dose iron that I’ve always needed on prescription. I’ve recently struggled to tolerate iron supplements, I’ve worked my way through every variety available & am now taking a liquid iron that the pharmacist commented was ‘oo, this one is pricey. You have a nice doctor’ 😂

Hospitals are charged for prescriptions written there, so usually they will give you a small initial dose and then you need to go to your GPs to get a longer term prescription.

That all makes sense! Thanks both, not sure why this wasn't explained to me!

My MW phoned my GP who prescribed the iron upon her recommendation, I would definitely phone yours and explain, and I'm sure they will write a script; if they don't then contact your MW and ask if they can help you sort it. Apologies if this has been explained, but I wasn't told that you are supposed to not take it before or after having dairy (which affects absorption), and if possible it was good to take it alongside some orange juice.

I was prescribed a 3 month supply and the pharmasict told me that it would be much cheaper to buy it over the counter. AFAIR it was over half price.

I got prescribed this after 28 week bloods and just bought it at boots - it’s only a few quid and you get 30 in each box.

I phoned the midwife and left a message so I'll see what she comes back with tomorrow, I need to phone my GP surgery tomorrow but equally can just go to a pharmacy tomorrow too.

Didn't know about the dairy but did know about the OJ, thank you @Pomley!