Iron tablets for anaemia - side effects

[Keha]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant. I've been told I am mildly anaemic and have been prescribed Ferrous Sulfate 200mg daily. Currently I am taking on an empty stomach before a meal as that is what the midwife said, although the instructions say you can take it after a meal. Over the last day or so I have had bloating, nausea, loss of appetite and indigestion. This doesn't happen immediately after taking the tablet, it seems to be several hours later.

Has anyone experienced similar side effects and did they get better as you got used to the tablets?
Do you find there is a bit of a delay before you get the side effects? (I'm just wondering in case I actually have a stomach bug and it is not the iron tablets)
Any tips on reducing side effects?

Thanks

Try taking chelated iron tablets instead. FS tablets have the exact side-effects you describe.CI is much better.

Iron tablets are horrible things. They come with a list of side effects as long as your arm! The most common ones being stomach upsets. For a good couple months they would make me throw up 20 minutes after taking them! Weirdly, I can now tolerate them but they do cause awful constipation.

I was swapped to Ferrous Furmate & for me, they are much more tolerable than sulphate. There’s one or two other formulations as well so def worth asking your GP to try something else if it doesn’t settle.

My GP advised me to graduate up on the tablets, so take one a day for 4-5 days, then add a second for 4-5 days and then finally all 3 tablets. Supposedly could help your body adjust a bit better - could also be worth a try!

Ps. Def take with a meal, they are unbearable on an empty stomach!

i got told NOT to take them on an empty stomach as they can cause upset. I'm on a high dose 3 times a day and 37 weeks now, so far no bad side effects thankfully but I think I'm over constipation station only due to the pressure baby is putting on my colon xD

Take spatone liquid iron, brilliant and no side effects. The downside is you will have to buy this yourself as can't get on prescription.

Please do not take spatone it doesn't contain enough iron to get your iron levels up and you need to try to get it up before you go into labour.

Iron Deficiency Anaemia is common anyway including in pregnancy.

You can try:

1. Changing compounds but you will still have side effects but they may just be different e.g. runs
2. Taking one at night before you go to bed then having any additional doses in the day.

3 Going down to one per day and then adding another dose every 5-7 days. However if you find you can only manage one then stick to one just take it consistently.

The reason to take them on an empty stomach is certain foods including milk, cheese, coffee, tea make absorption more ineffective.

Thanks everyone. Its interesting that people seem to get different advice on the empty stomach aspect. I think I'm going to have to try taking after a meal, just to stomach it (excuse the pun). I'll ask my midwife next week whether I can be prescribed something else.

I have been on them a month now with no side effects at all. I would recommend taking them 1 hour after your breakfast and 1 hour after your tea with a glass of fresh orange as that helps absorb the iron.