Can Iron Supplement cause rapid heart beat and anxiety?

[Shajarin]

I'm probably deficient in b12 as I have many of the relevant symptoms (including neurological) so I started b12 injection therapy in the advice of my Doctor. I'm using cianocoblamin 1000 mcg injection each alternate day. I'm also mildly deficient with Iron so I take the Solgar "Gentle Iron" - 25mg byglicinate iron supplement once daily.

Strangely however, since I started taking iron 3 days ago I feel more nervous and my heart beat became fast.. Its a horrible feeling. I have heard about possible side effect such constipation and other stomach issues (luckily don't have these) but not about my experiences.. Isn't iron intake suppose to reverse such experiences rather than reinforce them?

I would be glad to hear if I'm not the only one who feel this way and how to deal with that?

[Nackapan]

I've tried all sorts of iron supplements but not had that side effect. Infact as you say it usually stops those symptoms only way is to stop the iron and see how you are .

MIght be symptoms of iron dropping more? If they stop you can try another sort like spartone ??

Solgar gentle iron in that dose good for maintenence but you usually need more elemental iron and a higher dose to get the levels up first. Depends on how low your iron levels are.

Go by what your doctor suggests with iron. Remember it's usually in a multi vit too about 14mg if you take those.

[Shajarin in reply to Nackapan]

I don't know what counts as low I have a bit low 49 ug/dL, so is it possible that I do need more doses than that? I thought that my body cannot handle even the dose I took (25mg) and maybe to take out half of the capsule powder..

I will try to stop taking that tomorrow and if it doesn't help maybe the answer is taking even more iron and from different kind.

Is it possible that supplementing with iron would lower my iron levels??

[Nackapan in reply to Shajarin]

No I didn't mean that. The rise in levels takes time. It's possible your level was going down to cause symptoms.

What does your doctor say?

[Shajarin in reply to Nackapan]

She said to supplement with iron along with the b12 injection therapy for about a month and then meet her again..

[Nackapan in reply to Shajarin]

Oh okay but didnt suggest what sort or how much? I first of all was put on iron sulfate then as level didn't budge

3 spartone a day then as I'd already bought solgar gentle iron ti take that every other day instead thrn as ferritin was actually dropping lower but probably just maintained as not much different I then was prescribed ferrous fumerate 322mg with folate. Couldn't tolerate that so now take ferrous fumerate 210. That raised my ferritin levels. So now taking it every other day and using spartone and the odd solgar ti finish them.

Took 9 months. In hindsight should've taken more. But as you have to be so careful was cautious.

It's usually retested 2-3:months later with a blood test. Hope you sort out what's causing your symptoms. If unsure I would check with your doctor for Clearer instruction!

[Shajarin in reply to Nackapan]

Thanks for your actionable advice

however you overestimate the role of the doctors in these situation as most of them are passive and give general instruction.. she prescribed me the ferrus sulfate but I'm afraid taking it as I have chronic gastritis and GERD so I may not tolerate it. I wish she would go into such details as you mentioned..

[Nackapan in reply to Shajarin]

Yes I probably do.

I have learnt to ask direct questions. I take a list and tick them off.

I know not easy as I still come out thinking. ...now what?

I'm still in the process of elimination after a year to try and help myself.

I'm a detailed person that I'm not sure helpful at times.

Of course I can be more laid back if functioning okay like us all!

The doctor actually asked me not to take a list !! Only as it had questions she can't answer i think .No harm in asking though .

There were earlier posts of gentle iron supplements tried. Liquid one ect. Ferrous sulphate can cause constipation. Lower dose ferrous fumerate generally better tolerated if you want levels raised. Every other day can work. Or start with spartone . ??? Remember to take away from caffeine and if possible food. I have spartone in what ever juice I have open. Also have vit c with food to see if i can absorb it better. Little and often better .

No idea why I need it now as never had it in my life before. Can only assume absorbtion problem or repair. Seems a common problem on here.

It naturally fluctuates that's why it's best to wait about 3 Months if not an acute problem between blood tests.

Hope whatever you try helps you.

[Marz]

It is often suggested that taking VitC aids iron absorption. Was your Ferritin - Folate - VitD tested ? If low in range all can cause symptoms.

VitC and Magnesium good for constipation. Research carefully to obtain the most suitable.

[Shajarin in reply to Marz]

Yep I tested those two weeks ago and the only deficiency was iron 49 ug/dL

[Marz in reply to Shajarin]

What were the results ?

[Shajarin in reply to Marz]

Folic Acid: 13.8, Ferritin: 91, Vit D: 114 nmol/L ( after a two months treatment of 1 drop 1000 u a day). Iron Saturation: 15.5 % (doesn't know what that means..)

[Marz in reply to Shajarin]

Sounding good ! Labtests on-line will explain iron testing as will the website - iron disorders ... 🤔

[Shajarin in reply to Marz]

Considering that my ferritin and transfferin levels are in the norm reference scale is it possible that I don't need iron supplementation at all?

[Marz in reply to Shajarin]

Ferritin is iron stored as a protein so does not always reflect serum iron. Hence I susggested the above websites. I am not an expert on iron

[TFH1]

It's not the iron making you anxious, it's the cyanocobalamin. In UK we usually take hydroxocobalamin which has fewer side effects.

[Shajarin in reply to TFH1]

Could be, unfortunately I can't get it here..

[TFH1]

It can be bought online from Germany and shipped:

I buy my B12 from versandapo.de - versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-d...

But if you're just going to try it out I would just buy 10 ampoules - versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-d...

If you pay using PayPal or Amazon Pay then it can be much easier.

[Shajarin in reply to TFH1]

Cool, thanks. But is it possible to import it without a doctor prescription?

[TFH1 in reply to Shajarin]

I believe many people in this group do just that, but better off talking to them about it. Anyone?

[Shajarin in reply to TFH1]

I checked this website u referred to but it is not available to me for some reason..

Do you have another site in the UK or EU that sells hydroxocobalamin ampoules (without the requirement of prescription) for international costumers like me?

[TFH1 in reply to Shajarin]

Website is working, try:

versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-d...

[Shajarin in reply to TFH1]

Not for me, it says this:

"Forbidden

You don't have permission to access this resource."

[TFH1 in reply to Shajarin]

Ah that's a shame, I wonder why. You could try browsing on your computer if you're on your phone or phone if you're on your computer. You could try just going to the main Web address:, versandapo.de. and then search for hydroxocobalamin.

And failing that you could Google hydroxocobalamin and see what comes up in your country. Good luck!

[TFH1 in reply to Shajarin]

And failing that I would post this is a new question here, as there are lots of people on this group that know more about getting hydroxocobalamin than I do and they may not be following this particular thread

[Shajarin in reply to TFH1]

U right thanks!

[jimister]

I'm thinking it might be the B12. I had exactly the same experience I had a horrible anxious feeling couldn't relax and I was not taking iron at the time.

[Leils]

You could try taking a small dose of niacin and some magnesium cream or oil

These are more calming nutrients

Or something like camomile tea or CBD oil

[Shajarin]

**update** I felt so bad yesterday night like having heart attack and got to the emergency room by ambulance. All tests came back fine except one: a mild decrease in potassium levels (3.38 mmol/l). I bet it could explain my palpitations and muscle weakness better than the iron levels/iron supplement side effects/cianocoblamin side effects (opened a new thread about that)

[Litatamon]

Hi Shajarin,

Hope everything improves for you soon.

Just wanted to add that it could be the b12 shots, your body reacting to them.

I had a 12- 18 hour reaction between my second and third shot. The first shot was without any issues/reaction.

It was like I was being attacked from every angle. Very intense. It would happen, almost on cue, every 15-20 minutes. It was both aggressive and painful. I too worried that I was having heart issues (not knowing what that would feel like) and would suggest that everyone err on the side of getting things checked out. I didn't. I couldn't think - I could hardly sit. I certainly couldn't sleep. Spent most of the night pacing.

And suddenly it just left - poof. I did coincidentally take two magnesium tablets, but no proof that that specific supplementation helped. Who knows, it absolutely could have been a factor.

What I do know that 80% of my b12 issues disappeared after the same shot. Once again could be a coincidence. But it does make me wonder if my body was taking it all in in its own way, so to speak.

All the best to you. And hope it all improves for you soon.

[Shajarin in reply to Litatamon]

Thanks, I hope i would recover soon, it feels like hell. Since the b12 injections my balance in my body changed and I do feel worse. hopefully this is is sign of healing rather than detoriation..

[Litatamon in reply to Shajarin]

Hope so too.

It can be like a rollercoaster. I had a bad weekend two weeks ago, after a month of progress. A few of my symptoms came back very strongly.

And now everything is good again. It really can be all over the place.