Taking iron supplements

[clutter]

Any advice?

I haven't picked them up yet from the pharmacy (yeah, I'm that low, my dr prescribed the supplement, and I will probabaly be on them all summer), so I don't know if it's 1x or 2x a day. But I know the types of problems that iron causes. Anyone have any advice? My dr suggested Miralax, but I only found that in a drinkable form.

 

[DisneyScraps]

I take a generic iron supplement from Walgreens. I had tried a few other types but they would really hurt my stomach. This one is a lot more gentle.

 

[SpecialK]

When I was on an iron supplement, I took it at night to avoid the nausea. Miralax can be mixed into any liquid, including water, and you'll never know it's there. It dissolves completely and it's tasteless.

 

[Christine]

Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach; however, most people can't tolerate it so take it with food until you are used to it.

Also, if the doctor prescribed it twice a day, start with once a day and ease into it.

For preventative measures, start drinking Activia drinks (they seem to keep things moving) and if you can tolerate prunes/dried plums, eat a few of those every day.

If your prescription iron is not mixed with Vitamin C, eat an orange or grapefruit along with the iron as it helps absorption.

 

[bas71873]

They make a slow release iron pill. I believe it says "FE" on it, but personally, it was more like a laxative. I had to stop taking it cause my stomach was upset all the time and I spent WAY too much time in the bathroom.

 

[clutter]

Thanks, all.

It's once a day. Take on empty stomach, no anatcids, cereal or coffee within an hour.

I'm thinking I'll take it in the morning. I eat breakfast at the office, so that gives me the hour. I can try the Activia for breakfast, and have a few prunes in the afternoon for snack. Then, if I'm needing it, a Miralax at night.

Funny, one of the nicest things a dr can say to a mom was when I answered the phone and he said "you must be REALLY tired." I am, and I'm looking forward to no longer eating ice! (Dry mouth.) So I'm really hoping this works.

 

[dzorn]

Any advice?

I haven't picked them up yet from the pharmacy (yeah, I'm that low, my dr prescribed the supplement, and I will probabaly be on them all summer), so I don't know if it's 1x or 2x a day. But I know the types of problems that iron causes. Anyone have any advice? My dr suggested Miralax, but I only found that in a drinkable form.

Mirlax does come in powdered form that you add to water (no taste) drink extra water. Do not take the iron with dairy product but with OJ. It will help you body absorb it.

Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

Thanks, all.

It's once a day. Take on empty stomach, no anatcids, cereal or coffee within an hour.

I'm thinking I'll take it in the morning. I eat breakfast at the office, so that gives me the hour. I can try the Activia for breakfast, and have a few prunes in the afternoon for snack. Then, if I'm needing it, a Miralax at night.

Funny, one of the nicest things a dr can say to a mom was when I answered the phone and he said "you must be REALLY tired." I am, and I'm looking forward to no longer eating ice! (Dry mouth.) So I'm really hoping this works.

Miralax should be taken in the am with plenty of water through the day. You want plenty of fluid after it as it pulls water back into the intestines if you are not drinking enough you will be causing more problem that the miralax will help with. You can mix the Miralax with the OJ you use to take the supplement.

Denise in MI

 

[Carly_Roach]

When I had to take iron supplements a few years ago I was advised to get "food grade" iron instead of the other kind for better absorption, so I did. I just went to a health-food store and asked for "food grade" and they helped me out.

I didn't have any problems with it at all.

 

[Imzadi]

It depends on how much iron your Dr wants you to take. I love, Love, LOVE Hema-plex. It was recommended by my health food store. It is totally vegetarian. Doesn't upset my stomach at all. Does not have a laxative effect. This totally cured me of my severe anemia.

It comes in the soft gels in which you can take 1-2 a day. Each soft gel is 43 mgs. Or 1 capsule for 85 mgs.

Scroll down for the reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Plus-Hema-Plex-30-tablets/dp/B00014EFFQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[Christine]

It depends on how much iron your Dr wants you to take. I love, Love, LOVE Hema-plex. It was recommended by my health food store. It is totally vegetarian. Doesn't upset my stomach at all. Does not have a laxative effect. This totally cured me of my severe anemia.

It comes in the soft gels in which you can take 1-2 a day. Each soft gel is 43 mgs. Or 1 capsule for 85 mgs.

Scroll down for the reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Plus-Hema-Plex-30-tablets/dp/B00014EFFQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

That does look like a good supplement. Is it liquid inside? I assume so since it's a soft gel or is it just soft-coated?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It might be a good idea to stay away from very high power magnets.

 

[Imzadi]

That does look like a good supplement. Is it liquid inside? I assume so since it's a soft gel or is it just soft-coated?

The soft gels are just soft coated. The capsule is hard like a tablet but in capsule shape. It is coated to slide down easier. I have a hard time swallowing pills, but this goes down fine because of the coating.

 

[clutter]

It might be a good idea to stay away from very high power magnets.

Thanks, I needed that!

I think I'm on a pretty massive dose, so I'll stick with what he's prescribed to see if I can tolerate it. I'm hoping it starts to work quickly!

My sisters recommended Floravox at one point. But that's pretty nasty stuff as well, taste wise.

 

[dis-happy]

Watch out! I added iron and ended up pg. I think it increases your fertility (especially if you were low before).

 

[Christine]

Thanks, I needed that!

I think I'm on a pretty massive dose, so I'll stick with what he's prescribed to see if I can tolerate it. I'm hoping it starts to work quickly!

My sisters recommended Floravox at one point. But that's pretty nasty stuff as well, taste wise.

It stained my teeth also and it has a VERY low amount of iron. I know, I know, it's highly absorbed but it didn't do much for me.

 

[Imzadi]

Watch out! I added iron and ended up pg. I think it increases your fertility (especially if you were low before).

Maybe it's because you had more energy to, umm, do the horizontal mambo after taking iron supplements.

I got a lot of my energy back after starting on the Hema-plex and my skin tone actually changed color as my blood was oxygenating much better. I had been severely anemic for a long time and didn't know it. I had to get a totally different color foundation.

It stained my teeth also and it has a VERY low amount of iron. I know, I know, it's highly absorbed but it didn't do much for me.

 

[clutter]

Watch out! I added iron and ended up pg. I think it increases your fertility (especially if you were low before).

Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that. I'm a single mom 24/7, so no time to even date! Unless you can get pregnant thru imagination. Plus, I'm on the pill straight thru until my hysterectomy in August to prevent me from bleeding again (which is what got me here in the first place).

But the energy will be good. I kind of knew I was anemic (had to be after the last few months), because I was crunching ice all the time. I was beating myself up because I was tired, and got out of breath walking just a bit. But now that it's confirmed, I'm EXHAUSTED and I don't want to do anything.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I have to have IV iron infusions due to my severe anemia. It is a pain but I honestly would prefer that to the problems that iron supplements can cause.

If you are on mega doses then you may want to ask your doctor about the IV option.

 

[Imzadi]

Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that. I'm a single mom 24/7, so no time to even date! Unless you can get pregnant thru imagination. Plus, I'm on the pill straight thru until my hysterectomy in August to prevent me from bleeding again (which is what got me here in the first place).

My GYN wants to schedule me for a fibroid embolization. I'm still trying to get my thyroid functioning properly first, as that is another cause for massive bleeding problems.

But the energy will be good. I kind of knew I was anemic (had to be after the last few months), because I was crunching ice all the time. I was beating myself up because I was tired, and got out of breath walking just a bit. But now that it's confirmed, I'm EXHAUSTED and I don't want to do anything.

The ice crunching is a symptom called pica. I was crunching on Altoids mints like they were going out of style. Who CHEWS Altoids mints? One is usually too intense, but I was up to chewing 2-3 at a time.

As soon as I started on the iron supplement the Altoids craving disappeared in a day & a half. I still have 3 mint tins stocked up that I have no desire to dip into.