What do you guys do if you are taking iron tablets as they cause constipation?

[teresad]

[Apricot]

Would take Extra vit c..orange juice...will aid the absorbtion of the iron...

Always drink extra water too....

With best wishes

[NorthernSoul]

I never had this problem with iron tablets but upping your fibre intake and perhaps having a few dried prunes, apricots etc. with breakfast will help. Drinking lots of water too, as the above poster has already mentioned. If you're still having trouble then go back and see your GP as there are other preparations of iron tablets that some people find suit them better than others.

[Hidden]

Yes I agree, orange juice.

[Jacks]

I've found if I take them with a full glass of orange juice, the type with "extra bits" it helps, as does eating more fresh fruit and taking more fluids. For me dried fruit can cause discomfort, even when soaked or poached again. I would say try another brand if it doesn't improve.

[zoombie]

Baxters Chicken Broth is GF and works for me!

[Maryelle]

ok I was in a health food shop and talking to the owner about this problem.

A guy overheard and joined in, it turned out he was a herbalist and nutritionist, he said there is a simple solution to the problem....

If taking iron tablets, it is necessary to eat lots of red foods i.e. red peppers, red cabbage etc in order to carry the iron to the blood etc without it getting stuck in the intestines, I went home tried it and voila ...result !!

[Hidden]

Have you tried to up the iron content of your diet...it worked for me

[Hidden]

I found Spatone supplements (in orange juice) very helpful (iron tablets nauseated me), and cooking in a cast iron pan is meant to help. (My doctor told me about the cast iron pan, but I have no idea how much iron it contributes to your diet.)

[Allie65]

Normally if you stick with the iron tablets the constipation eases after a while. You are usually only constipated for the first few days and then it tends to get better unless you have a break from them and then you have to go through it again. That's how it works for me anyway, but might not be the same for everyone. Good luck!!!

[Jacks in reply to Allie65]

I absolutely agree but had not thought about it. When I have to take the full whack I have the opposite effect - loose bowel movements.

[spud2]

In some cases... malabsorbtion is part of the problem with gluten sensitivity/ coeliac disease

So iron can build up in the body... haemachromatosis...It is a big problem & really under diognosed....Dr's don't understand ...just how common it is & just how serious it is. Vit C does

help with iron absorbtion ..so in theis case you avoid Vit C & iron rich foods...~~There is no treatment for this condition other than regular out bleeds ( phlebotomy)

[Jacks in reply to spud2]

It's good you brought this up, the risk of iron overload is deadly and why iron supplementation shouldn't be self medicated but should be based on a full blood count along with a FERRITIN test. The GPs I've met don't seem to understand that it is this that makes the difference. My ferritin is constantly around 3 but the haemachromatosis patient I met in hospital had a ferritin level of 2000 - we both had the same (described) symptoms, but he was in for a phlebotomy and I was in for an iron infusion.

[spud2 in reply to Jacks]

thank you Jack There is such ignorantce about iron overload...I am a therapist I have trained in many therapies ...this big problem was never mentioned. The symptoms are the same for needing iron...fatigue, joint pain, loss of libido etc etc etc . a lot of supplements & medication use iron oxide as a colouring. My problem showed up just by chanceMy ferritin was nearly 600 & even though I am in heart failure ..the Dr's did not think it was important .Now I am being scanned & tested for iron deposit in the organs..I believe gluten sensitivity/ malabsorbtion is part of this problem

[Lunarhine]

Dried apricot has tons of iron (and calcium) in and is as good for constipation as prunes, but (IMHO) a lot nicer to eat. Not suggesting these replace supplements necessarily, but it seems unlikely to do any harm to have both. And eating at regular times (and regular amounts) also helps the digestive system normalise. Good luck.

[Hemlington1]

As above dried apricots, dates, oranges, rhubarb, prunes and prune juice, green tea all these things usually work natural is best. Hope you feel better soon.