Iron alternatives + iron interactions

[muddlemand]

I've been put on Ferrous Fumarate and can't tolerate it. I think I've read that this isn't the "best" form to take - am I remembering right? If it's true, does "best" mean most easily aborbed, most effective, or what? And what's best for correcting low ferritin?

My ferritin was very low a few weeks ago (results posted here). I'm going to phone and ask for something else; I took 8 tablets in the first week (told to take 2 per day, maximum is 3 per day) and it took more than two weeks for my bowels to be back to normal. So I thought I'd try building up gradually, took one on Sunday, and only just feeling right three days later... that's enough trying it out, in my book. (And yes, taking with a piece of fruit or a meal including tomatoes.)

Also, I had severe Vitamin D deficiency (I'm taking more than prescribed), and my B12 was too high . (ETA: also low sodium - knew I'd forget something!) From symptoms I believe I'm not utilising B12, so my body is making extra thinking I haven't got enough. (The GP did bloods to rule out the scary potential causes of elevated B12.) I have been thinking that these are all interwoven and as I get one thing right the rest may start to come right as well - then when searching on ferrous fumarate here, I saw a 3-year-old comment:

"All these levels seem to be interlinked, since starting iron 3 months ago my b12 has now dropped ... vit d has also been found to be low, ..."

- so am I right about these all working together, and getting them into balance is a "whole-picture" exercise rather than one thing at a time?

PS. I'm not on thyroid treatment. Today I sent off a sample to Medichecks which will include antibodies and that's the only thyroid thing not checked already. I've only once definitely had a thyroid problem and that was severely *over* active five years ago.

[Naomi8]

I found ferrous fumerate OKish.Didn't bung me up too much.I get on better with ferrous bisyglycinate.I always take it with 1000 buffered C & only after food.

Other products I have tried,like Spatone & Floradix did not raise my iron levels when I was anaemic,but may be Ok to maintain normal iron levels,perhaps?

[muddlemand in reply to Naomi8]

Thanks, I'll remember bisyglycinate if the GP has a choice to make as to the next thing to try.

So far I don't know what's making my levels low. I think this has been the case for many years and I'm "looking forward" to a long journey of discovery!

[thyr01d]

I am prescribed FF as syrup and, since it contains sweetener that has a laxative effect, it doesn't have the constipating effect. Vitamin C in excess also acts as a laxative in most people so if you took it with your iron, which is good for absorption, that should help.

[muddlemand in reply to thyr01d]

The GP has changed me to a syrup - Sodium feredetate (iron 27.5mg). She said it was her only other option, and it's usually for babies so she had to do the sums to work out dosage! I haven't got it yet, next week. Not keen on artificial sweeteners for all sorts of reasons but this does say sugar free so I suppose they'll be in it. Well, I'll see how it goes.

I don't take Vit C in supplement form but I was taking the ferrous fumarate with either a piece of fruit or something with tomato in, for absorption. Vit C is on my list of find-out-about-one-day... one thing at a time or I won't know what makes a difference and what doesn't.

[thyr01d in reply to muddlemand]

Hi Muddlemand, I follow your thinking, one thing at a time, and absolutely agree with you about sweeteners, sometimes we get stuck though.

[muddlemand in reply to thyr01d]

Yes I do know!

[helvella Administrator in reply to muddlemand]

What is in one make of Sodium Feredetate 190mg/5ml Oral Solution (Concordia International). Have not checked for other makes.

6.1 List of excipients

Methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218)

Propyl hydroxybenzoate (E216)

Saccharin Sodium

Glycerol

Sorbitol liquid (E420)

Ethanol

Black cherry flavour

Ponceau 4R (E124)

Citric acid monohydrate

Water

medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...