Iron Supplement Help

marvan5 · November 2014

I learned at my prenatal appointment yesterday that I am anemic, so the OB suggested I take an iron supplement (I have a "gentle" 28mg iron supplement; I have had one blood test nearly 8 years ago that showed I was slightly anemic so I took the supplement last year when I bled for 2+ months from a chemical pregnancy and I felt very tired and weak, so this is the remainder of that supplement) on top of my prenatal (Rainbow Light which has iron in it) and start taking it in the morning (I had been right before bed) 30-60 minutes before eating for maximum absorption. This morning I followed her instructions. While cooking breakfast and 45 minutes after taking the pills and drinking about 12 oz of water, a sip of water made me a little queasy (weird, no nausea since July) and then I had a sip of my coffee and 5 minutes later I was puking (again, not typical). I hardly ate half of my oatmeal and couldn't drink my half caff coffee before it was cold.

I am pretty positive it was the additional iron supplement that has caused the nausea, since I had to take my prenatal at all times during the day early in my pregnancy because of bad nausea, and it never made me ill even then. Does anyone else have to take additional iron and what do you do to avoid getting sick? Should I have avoided drinking water before getting food in my stomach? Thanks for any insight or advice

Lola918 · November 2014

Can you take it further away from a meal, if that's what's making you queasy? Assuming you're not feeling nauseated in the 30-60 minutes you wait before eating. Alternatively you could take it with food, anything non dairy and that doesn't have calcium added to it. Vitamin c helps with iron absorption so maybe eat an orange with it? I would try both with and without food and see how you feel.

I'm on two 65 tablets a day and haven't felt nauseated (I use vitron-c ), I set reminders on my calendar at work for mid morning and mid afternoon when I'm as far from meals as possible. Also, definitely don't take it when your prenatals as calcium blocks iron absorption (also why you have to take it away from anytime you consume dairy).

Pips09 · November 2014

I'm on an iron supplement for anemia, too, but it doesn't make me queasy. I'd try taking it with food. You could also try a different brand?

lavet22 · November 2014

I'm on 90mg morning and night and 28mg in my prenatal around midday. They don't make me sick either. Orange juice can upset your stomach, so if you took it with that, maybe avoid it next time. Mine don't make me sick at this point, but I would take them at a time when you maybe won't be eating or drinking for a while. Before bed perhaps?

Good luck!!

marvan5 · November 2014

I think I'll take my prenatal at night for sure instead, and the iron supplement in the morning (which includes vitamin C in it, and I have GD so no juice for this girl). I won't wait as long to eat afterwards (my doctor was specific about taking it in the morning without food until 30-60 minutes afterwards for maximum absorption) and I won't drink so much liquid so it won't be as explosive perhaps? If that doesn't work tomorrow then I'll try a different brand... but if this is already the "gentle" stuff then I am skeptical about that route. My friend has anemia issues and she just started taking some sort of infusion because iron makes her ill. I will also ask her about what she takes and then see if my doctor thinks it'd be okay to take.

Bigboneded · November 2014

Try to take it with oj. They like an empty stomach, but you could take it 2-4 hours after you eat... then belly is not truly empty. Vitamins on an empty stomach queasy is what I am hearing you describe. I would eat toast or crackers if you feel that again, the vitamin supplement is breaking down, broken down and making you queasy as it hits stomach walls. Adding food then shouldn't effect it, or eat a little sooner like you say. I have to take iron, cacium, and medicine 4 hours apart from each other, its a pain :-P. Do try to take it with vit c to help absorption. This should keep constipation at bay, too. I think you can take colace and iron together @MrsDigger10‌, be sure to drink a large full glass of water with colace, and iron does better with vitamin c, so oj or something fortified....

marvan5 · November 2014

@Bigboneded I can't drink juice because of gestational diabetes, or else I would try that. I wish I could eat toast or crackers, but I am gluten intolerant and with GD processed foods are only an occasional treat for me now. Yay for restrictions.

Bigboneded · November 2014

@marvan5‌ just saw you in the diabetic check in... :-) no juice for me either, no gluten either. ... I hear ya- yay for restrictions! :-) try a vit c food, an orange, or clementine, or prunes? I did my GD class today and brought up the no juice rule, and she said the fruit would be better because of fiber content. Maybe closer to lunch, as less carbs in the AM was also rec'd....

marvan5 · November 2014

Bigboneded said:

@marvan5‌ just saw you in the diabetic check in... :-) no juice for me either, no gluten either. ... I hear ya- yay for restrictions! :-) try a vit c food, an orange, or clementine, or prunes? I did my GD class today and brought up the no juice rule, and she said the fruit would be better because of fiber content. Maybe closer to lunch, as less carbs in the AM was also rec'd....

Or satsuma or mandarin? That doesn't seem like a stomach full or anything... Gosh I love those things, and it's finally that time of year where we can get them! Okay, maybe there is a positive to this.

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

I usually just take mine about an hour after breakfast, an hour after lunch and right before bed. One of those doses I take with my prenatal and I take colace with one dose every other day (colace does not agree with me if I take it every day- it makes me shit my pants). I've never had a problem with it making me nauseous.

marvan5 · November 2014

@TXUltraRunner‌ I figure I got sick because I took it on an empty stomach. This morning I ate an apple (which are surprisingly high in vitamin C) and then took my supplement with only a sip of water. 40 minutes later my oatmeal was ready but I could only eat a third of it, even though I had been starving. We'll see how well it stays down, but so far it's a win. Will my doctor take my blood again soon to see how I'm doing? I really am shooting in the dark here...

Heatherlowry9 · November 2014

I am taking additional iron as well. It wasn't one from the shelf at the store, I asked the pharmacist and she had an over the counter supplement that they keep behind the counter, approx 325 mg if I remember correctly. My doctor actually suggested to take it with Orange Juice for better absorption. I've taken the supplement both in the morning and at night and had no problem. I do think it's better to take after you've had a bite to eat and not on an empty stomach. Good Luck!

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

marvan5 said:

@TXUltraRunner‌ I figure I got sick because I took it on an empty stomach. This morning I ate an apple (which are surprisingly high in vitamin C) and then took my supplement with only a sip of water. 40 minutes later my oatmeal was ready but I could only eat a third of it, even though I had been starving. We'll see how well it stays down, but so far it's a win. Will my doctor take my blood again soon to see how I'm doing? I really am shooting in the dark here...

They have not done an additional blood draw on me.

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