Help! Anyone on iron supplement?

I was given a prescription for iron several months ago but can't bring myself to take them - be interested to hear from anyone who is.

Not sure I know what you mean by squeamish.

I take one a day and feel fine on them. Perhaps you need to change the make

Iron tablets can upset your stomach - can you start on one tablet and work up to three a day and see how that goes?
Otherwise perhaps a liquid iron supplement may be better for the tum.

Are they slow release? They may be better

Take them with a small amount of food (not milk). Try starting with one tablet per day for one week then building up to 2 tabs and so on. If this does not help you could try asking your GP to prescribe the less potent form of iron supplements Ferrous Sulphate. Be aware that all iron supplements will make your stools very dark / black and this is normal. Iron tabs can also cause either diarrhoea or constipation as a side effect. Most side effects usually disappear once your body becomes used to the drug.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Think I will pull back to one per day to start with and try and build up to full dose. I know how you feel
willow-I've fought against taking them, but I've really got to get my levels up for the good of my health.

It's usually recommended to take iron supplements (which are not a drug btw) at a different time from a meal - unless it upsets the stomach in which case take them wuth a meal.
Tea stops the body absorbing iron, vitamin C helps (eg orange juice).

I hope you don't have to take them for too long Katek

I believe that nausea and gastric upset are common side effects of taking ferrous fumarate. If symptoms persist I would go back to the GP and ask for an alternative, there are several others you could try.

Being even a bit anaemic can make you feel terrible although I know you shouldn't take them without having levels tested and being prescribed by a doctor.

Katek There is a liquid form you can take which I find is kinder on my stomach. Floradix is the iron one and Sambucol is an immune booster. Take with food. I also feel that these work better than the tablet as they get into your system easier. I hope you are feeling better soon. X

I'm taking Ferrous Sulfate tablets. The GP said '2 or 3 a day' so I take 2. I don't have any ill effects at all but I should have a blood test soon to see if they are doing the job. I think the problem is most likely with my veggie diet.

Saw nurse practitioner today and she's changed my prescription to a once per day pill so we'll see how that goes. Need to get iron stores up asap. I'm a veggie too anno but I do try and eat lots of iron rich foods but am fast running out of enthusiasm for kale, broccoli and spinach at the moment!

Hmm maybe I should begin taking mine. I was prescribed them along with blood thinners and beta blockers after being diagnosed with AF. I get constipated enough without having that side effect which is one of the reasons I've resisted. I've just looked at the box(es - been given 6!!) and it is just one a day. Between the devil and deep blue sea with regards green veg which I love and should eat for my eyes but one of the other meds I've been prescribed says not to eat too much of it! You can't win can you