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March 2016 Moms
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help anemia and iron pills make me super sick!

crosas15crosas15 member
in March 2016 Moms
I may have anemia and possibly have to take iron pills anybody have suggestions or alternatives to the iron pill that won't make you vomit severely nauseaous...ive taken prenatals before with iron and made me feel horrible!
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Re: help anemia and iron pills make me super sick!

  • emjeveemjeve member
    I have to take an iron supplement for anemia and it also made me super sick for the first 10 or so days that I took it. I've been taking it for about a month now and it doesn't make me sick anymore. I experimented taking it at different times, with food, without food etc... and I found that taking it right after lunch was easiest on my stomach. I hope you find something that works for you!! Good luck!


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  • 2-Step2-Step member
    I can't take them either. I am only borderline so I am trying to supplement with food rather than take them. They make me miserable. I've heard taking them after a meal and before bed can help. 
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  • CecilB93CecilB93 member
    I take a slow release iron supplement right before bed/after dinner and I haven't had any issues. I have a fairly sensitive stomach, too, so I feel your pain. The slow release is easier on sensitive stomachs than just regular iron, could you try that?
    DS1 born 2/28/16
    DS2 due 12/12/18

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  • StormiewinterStormiewinter member
    I have to take it twice a day, for me I have to eat something immediately before hand. Even taking it and eating right after makes me feel awful. I have also heard that slow release or liquid iron can be easier on digestion.
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  • diablessediablesse member
    I'm also anemic and I try to supplement with food mostly.  Iron pills and I do not play nicely together.  On the days when I can really feel that I need an iron pill, I take it right before bed.  Don't forget to take a stool softener from time to time too.  The last time I was regular iron pills, I had a night of constipation that was worse than when I went through labour.  True story.
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  • RobinLovesAdamRobinLovesAdam member
    I take a fortified cereal, I found a Whole Foods brand cereal (frosted shredded wheat) that has 90% of the daily recommended amount per serving. Plus, the added fiber helps keep you regular, versus the supplements making you backed up. The cereal with my prenatal and some leafy greens each day have made quite an improvement.  

    Just remember that if you're supplementing with food, drink some orange juice or some other vitamin c enriched food (broccoli), along with it. Vitmain C helps your body absorb the iron better.

    Good luck, and I hope this helps...you'll feel a lot better soon!
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  • MelodyagsMelodyags member
    I take mine with a full glass of water and a meal. I wasn't able to take prenatal vitamins because made me sick so dr had me take the First Response gummy vitamins. The iron pills bothered my stomache when I first started them but it's eased up a bit after several weeks. Eat extra red meat, chicken, green leafy vegetables and nuts.
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  • hellomylittleonehellomylittleone member
    ejverre said:

    I have to take an iron supplement for anemia and it also made me super sick for the first 10 or so days that I took it. I've been taking it for about a month now and it doesn't make me sick anymore. I experimented taking it at different times, with food, without food etc... and I found that taking it right after lunch was easiest on my stomach. I hope you find something that works for you!! Good luck!

    I also was quite ill for the first 7-10 days, but figured out that taking it at different time etc really helped.

    I take mine in the afternoon with a glass of orange juice and a glass of water. The vitamin c also helps with absorption. I then follow with eating something with a bit of fibre in it - so far no constipation issues!

    Good luck!
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  • TayTayRNTayTayRN member
    I take rainbow light prenatal one vitamins which have a good amount or iron and I have found they have helped my stomach. I still don't take them on an empty stomach, I actually take them before bed and that works well for me. They also have probiotics that help prevent constipation that often comes with iron supplementation.
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  • RiverWhisperingRiverWhispering member
    I can highly recommend the Mega Food brand "Blood Builder." I was taking Vitamin Code's RAW Iron before but have switched to Mega Food's Blood Builder. The RAW supplements were great too, no complaints. But right now I'm sticking with Mega Food.

    Some things to keep in mind when dealing with Iron issues:

    -If you are consuming caffeine, whether tea or coffee or sodas (or even chocolate), be sure not to consume those products within the same hour as your iron supplementing. Caffein blocks the body's ability to absorb iron. Blocks it dramatically.

    -I recommend squeezing half a lemon or lime into a cup of water to drink along side your iron supplement (or in tandem with eating whatever iron rich foods you're consuming instead) since vitamin C increases the body's ability to absorb iron like 100 fold. I can't remember the exact number, but it was substantial. You could also just drink some orange or grapefruit juice along with your supplement in order to get the vitamin C but I'd be sparing with juices because they are chock full of sugar.

    That's everything I can think of right now. Um... sesame seeds are an awesome source of iron if you just want an easily digestible iron "hit." Not the tastiest method, but noshing on a few small spoonfuls is helpful. Ha.

    Best of luck to everyone!! We're in the home stretch!!
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