Anyone on iron supplements?

StaceyM06

At my monthly appt yesterday, my OB informed me that I am slightly anemic and suggested I take a daily iron pill. I went to CVS and there are a few different options w/ different mg levels - 27mg, 56mg, and another that was even more than that. Do you know what you take? Also, do they make you constipated?  I may call my OB with these questions too. 

jr63_2020

I take SlowFE (over the counter). I actually asked the pharmacist and she looked at how much iron I get in my prenatal, vs. how much was in SlowFE and looked up the recommended levels in each week of pregnancy and helped me figure it out. I've had some constipation issues, but not as bad as I thought or expected--probably because I also take Colace daily so it's helped a lot. If anything, I'll have more issues with gas than constipation. GL!

camdenfaithful

I take Nature's Made Iron which comes in 65 mg tabs (I got it at Target).  The nurse at my OBs office said that I should take something that is at least equivalent to 325mg ferrous sulfate which this is.

I've heard that iron makes you constipated so to be proactive I also take 1 Colace everyday when I take my iron.  So far I can say doing this has made me the opposite of constipated.

LifeInANutshell

There's xtra in my prenatals

luckymrs718

I found out last week that I'm anemic as well and my OB actually told me to take the over the counter Slow FE iron supplement.  It's a slow release tablet so it's easier on your stomach and if you take it with orange juice or anything with vitamin c, it will absorb quicker.  It's pretty inexpensive I think a box of 30 pills cost about $12.  So far I haven't noticed any constipation problems other than what I've been having just from being pregnant.  I take mine at night in the of chance that it does upset my stomach at least I'm asleep.  Good luck!

ksulli

My MW suggested Feosol which includes a little bit of a stool softener to prevent constipation that usually comes with iron. I haven't had an issue, but was told to take it at least 2 hrs apart from my prenatal b/c calcium can inhibit the absorption. 

Clerk9

My OB also specifically said to get the Slow Fe over-the-counter iron supplements for my mild anemia.  They have 45mg of elemental iron, & my prenatals (which I've been taking throughout my pregnancy) have another 30mg.  

The instructions were to take one tablet once daily, & if my levels didn't improve he was potentially going to start me on two tablets daily (but I'm doing well enough that we didn't have to up the dose).  

I've noticed that my body isn't as free & easy with the bowel movements as it used to be , but it's nothing I'd consider "constipation".

HTH! 

Ginaincali

I was on 3 iron pills daily, a vitamin c supplement, and extra folic acid for a month.  The dr informed me at my last appointment that my blood work came back fine and I could stop the iron pills and vitamin C.  My dose was 325mg.

itsmegin

Mine had me go on them at 16 weeks, even without testing me for anemia. She just told me to get Slow FE and I have been on it for awhile and had no constipation problems, as long as I eat plenty of fruit and prunes.

StaceyM06

wow, thanks, ladies. everyone is so different. I am leaning toward the slowFE. I hope it won't give me constipation. Thanks, again.