Anyone taking Slow FE?

pitch77 · November 2012

I passed my glucose test (yay!), but apparently I have low iron (boo!).

So my doc's nurse called & said I need to take Slow FE (iron pills) 4x a day. I got the generic version because that's all Walgreen's carried, and the suggested dosage is 1 pill per day. And each pill is 250% of your RDA. 1000% of iron seems like a lot of dosage to me, although that could very well be what my doc intended, so I'm just taking one pill each day this weekend until I can confirm that dosage w/ my doc's office on Monday.

I'm curious to see if any of you are taking it, too, and if so, how much.

Mrs.A&J · November 2012

Yeah, I'd definitely check with the doc before taking that much. That much iron could really stop you up. Ick!

amberrae45 · November 2012

I take 320mgs of iron a day because of severe anemia and I think that's about 250mgs more than the daily suggested serving. I just followed what my doctor told me to take, but it DEFINITELY made me really constipated when I first started it.

pnwlover · November 2012

Yepp. I just started taking Iron this week to. I take 2 pills per day 65 mg/ equivalent to 325 mg Ferrous Sulfate. Each of my pills is 361% the daily value (and serving size is 1 pill) ! So that is 722% of my daily value! I can't really help you in telling you if it's too much but I feel so much better, and not as tired. Just call your doctor.. I am sure you are fine and were just so low on iron they wanted to build it up.

As for going to the bathroom I was already having problems prior to the iron..So when my doctor called about taking iron they also told me to take Colace (not peri!) 1x per day and Metamucial as needed up to 3x per day. It has worked wonderfully! It is sad to be excited about going to the bathroom "comfortably" everyday!

pitch77 · November 2012

Thanks, all!

Looks like the dosage of each pill is 45 mg, so it sounds like my doc's request is within the limits of a typical dose. I'll still confirm on Monday, just to be sure.

I'd read a bunch of stopped-up complaints online based on just ONE pill, so yeah, it'll be interesting (aka scary) to see what might happen if I have to take FOUR times the typical dose. The nurse also suggested I focus on increased fiber & plenty of water. I also stocked up on a bag of prunes, which I actually like when I'm not pregnant, so no hardship there. (No pun intended.)

Thanks again!

Rynleigh · November 2012

Just keep in mind that the RDA is based on how much iron a normal, non-anemic adult should get in a day - anemia is a deficiency, and can also be caused by absorption issues (which can mean you need a higher allotment to maintain the same blood iron level than non-anemic people). Definitely double check with the doc, but it doesn't sound extremely excessive, to me. I was misdiagnosed with anemia for years (until my current doc tested me for Thalassemia and immediately pulled me off of the iron), and my pregnancy doses were in the upper ranges, too.

pitch77 · November 2012

Rynleigh:
Just keep in mind that the RDA is based on how much iron a normal, non-anemic adult should get in a day - anemia is a deficiency, and can also be caused by absorption issues (which can mean you need a higher allotment to maintain the same blood iron level than non-anemic people). Definitely double check with the doc, but it doesn't sound extremely excessive, to me. I was misdiagnosed with anemia for years (until my current doc tested me for Thalassemia and immediately pulled me off of the iron), and my pregnancy doses were in the upper ranges, too.

Excellent point!

holly321 · November 2012

I am anemic while not pregnant, and I think I took more irn than that at some poinfs. And iron gives me the opposite of constipation....

xongrats on passing the glucose test!

kristen218 · November 2012

I am also low in iron because I am a vegetarian. It sounds like I got the same pill you did from Walgreens and I am only taking 1x per day. I take B-12 and calcium also so I do not want to be putting a ton of stuff in my body so I take the smallest amount I can.

Good Luck!

IncogNeato · November 2012

FOUR a day! Eeek! I was anemic last time and took 1 a day.

colinsfebmommy · November 2012

Yup just got told this week to take that! I haven't bought yet but was told to take once a day opposite time of prenatals

Aegis2005 · November 2012

I'm taking the CVS generic of Slow FE and am on one pill a day. Four seems like a lot, but if your iron is low, than it would make sense your OB would want you on more.

eatdrinkstretch · November 2012

I have suffered from anemia for years... and can tell you that all iron supplements are different. Ask your doctor how many mgs she wants you taking a day and go from there. Slow release are WAY better, in my opinion, for preventing "stoppage" and also to keep you from feeling ill after you take it (iron can be really hard on your system). Definitely try to take your iron with food, and make sure you are getting enough fiber. My MWs suggest taking 2 T./day of ground flax seed (you can put it in baked goods, smoothies, cereal, etc.) to help with "stoppage" and it is AMAZING.

pitch77 · November 2012

eatdrinkstretch:
I have suffered from anemia for years... and can tell you that all iron supplements are different. Ask your doctor how many mgs she wants you taking a day and go from there. Slow release are WAY better, in my opinion, for preventing "stoppage" and also to keep you from feeling ill after you take it (iron can be really hard on your system). Definitely try to take your iron with food, and make sure you are getting enough fiber. My MWs suggest taking 2 T./day of ground flax seed (you can put it in baked goods, smoothies, cereal, etc.) to help with "stoppage" and it is AMAZING.

Thanks! I had asked the nurse if there was a dosage I needed to keep in mind, but she just said it's standard with Slow FE. I'm seeing my doc on Wednesday, so I'll ask then. And thanks for the flax seed rec, too.

irishmom2010 · November 2012

Congrats on passing the GD test!

I took Slow FE with my last pregnancy. My doc suggested I take it with vitamin C, so something like grapefruit juice or orange juice, to help my body absorb it. I started out how but she was able to lessen my dosage after a few weeks and eventually it was 1 pill every other day instead of 1 pill 2x a day.

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