When is it best to take iron tablets
Iron Tablets | How To Take Iron Tablets | How To Reduce Iron Supplement Side Effects (2018)
Iron tablets, difficult to absorb by the body but here's everything pharmacists learn
to help you get the most out of this tablet
and if you can guess the name of this iron tablet?
leave a comment below and I'll let you know if you're correct
so, you've been prescribed iron tablets because you're anaemic
or you're at risk of becoming anaemic
iron is needed for the production of haemoglobin which is super important
because it carries oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our body in our blood cells
which is why too little iron can make you breathless, tired, lacking energy, pale
and may even cause heart palpitations
so now that we know the basics let's talk about how to get the most out of your iron supplement
take your iron supplement on an empty stomach so that's one hour before food or two hours after food
and research shows that if you take your iron supplement with a drink containing vitamin C
like orange juice it can actually improve the absorption
iron is difficult to absorb in the gut and this is massively reduced by the presence of
food, tea and milk so avoid these one hour before and one hour after taking your iron supplement
some medication also reduce the absorption of iron supplements for example antacids
iron supplements can also reduce the absorption of many other medicines
so for example levothyroxine is one of them and certain antibiotics too
so to see the full list and what to do about it I've left a link in the description below
feel free to check it out
now you've tried to take your iron supplement on an empty stomach
but it's leaving you with loads of side effects like tummy pain, constipation, diarrhoea and feeling sick
the good news is that these usually go after your body gets used to it
but if they're not going and you can't cope with it then speak to your pharmacist or your doctor
about these following options
option 1! check with your prescriber if they're happy for you to reduce your dose
and build it back up slowly to the prescribed dose that way your body has more time to adjust
option 2! speak to your prescriber as they may be able to prescribe you an alternative iron supplement
with a lower strength
and option 3! you've tried 1 and 2 and they haven't helped you're still getting side effects
well speak to your prescriber or pharmacist about taking your iron supplement
after food to reduce the stomach irritation
lastly iron supplements can make your stools darker and sometimes black
which can be a bit of a shock but remember it's completely normal and harmless
always check any medication you purchase with your pharmacist or doctor to make
sure it's okay for you to you use
please remember to always read the information leaflet that comes with your medicines
and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist
and that's it you're now an iron supplement pro! let me know if you found any of these tips useful?
by commenting below which ones you never knew about
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can you hear this bird? it's a very loud bird, don't what it is
if anyone knows what that bird is? leave a comment below
some people can tell like what birds are just from there their singing
i'm holding this the wrong way round
lacking energy, pale (LAUGHTER)
