Iron tablets - warning: TMI

[wem]

I've been prescribed iron tablets as my iron levels were scarily low. I've always heard they gave you constipation, but since I've been taking them, I've had the opposite. Is this a problem? Will I still be absorbing the iron?

I would go back to your GP, I went through a month of this and when my levels were checked my they were lower than before I took the tablets. It's not common but it can happen.

Have you heard of spatone I took them in my last trimester with DS3 and my iron levels were the best they have been when pregnant. It tastes proper vile but I found putting it in a big glass of fresh orange covered this whilst helping with the iron absorption.

Thanks, I've just called the gp and hopefully he'll be calling me back in a bit. I'll have a look at spatone too.

hi, had exactly the same problem, so much so going out was so stressful as never knew when I had to run to the loo!!! Started taking spatone about aweek ago, much better. More blood tests came through, but had these before starting spatone and my levels were low again only because I had stopped taking the tablets because of the constant runs. Hopefully my levels are getting better now, and yes I agree, not too bad if you mix it with orange juice, good luck!

Check what other ingredients were in the tablets. I was prescribed vitamin D tablets a while back and they gave me the runs because they contained sorbitol - I switched to a supplement without sweeteners (had to pay for it off prescription though!) and the tummy issues went and my levels started going up properly.

Another vote for Spatone here! My MW recommended I take a sachet twice a day until my levels improved. Didn't seem to make my poo black like the tablets did either!

My SIL swears by Spatone -- but you don't have to pay for iron tablets on prescription from your GP, and you do have to pay for Spatone. I'm stingy.

It's on three for two at boots

I've been taking iron tablets for about three weeks.
TMI ALERT!!!!!
Find I'm constipated for 2-3 days then have the runs.
Mentioned to the midwife that the stomach pain was keeping me awake at night and she just said "yeah, lots of people have problems with the tablets, just one of those things" Thought these people were in a CARING profession!!
Think I might gove SPATONE a go. Thanks for the tip.

Alternative to Spatone, because of the taste, if you want a tablet to swallow try any supplement containing
iron bisglycinate or chelated iron, sometimes called gentle iron. Solgar do these, and so doseveral other brands that you shd be able to find in any health shop. The form of jron to avoid is iron sulphate or ferrous sulphate.

Hope you feel better soon - when you get the iron right te difference is wonderful.

TMI.....
I was on iron tablets with DD, I had the runs, the midwife said I was most likely constipated but just runny poo was getting past the blockage (sorry for grossness) the day after dd was born I did the most enormous poo ever, it was shocking! and green
so it is possible to have the runs AND be constipated...oh the joys of late pregnancy!

I always had vitamin c with my iron tablets to help things along, it also helps the iron to be absorbed. The only shocking thing was after I had DTD's my poo was black and I thought the surgeon had sewn everything up wrong!! Was soo to ask the MW if it was normal!!

hello!! im on ferrous sulphate iron tablets and have had an upset tummy for a week since iv been on them. iv also felt extremely sick which reached its peak last night as i was sick as well (i am never sick!, not even with morning sickness!) i rang MW and she told me to stop taking them and they would discuss other alternatives with me at my next appointment, she mentioned spatone too. the tablets i was given were not nice at all so im glad that i dont have to take them anymore...