Ferrous fumarate 210mg: Can this be bought over... - Thyroid UK

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Ferrous fumarate 210mg

MissSusan profile image
17 Replies

Can this be bought over the counter in a chemist or does it need to be prescribed?

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MissSusan profile image
MissSusan
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17 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Yes, you can buy it OTC in pharmacies, also Amazon and Ebay.

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan in reply toSeasideSusie

I’ve seen a few on eBay very cheap. Should it be so cheap? Any particular brand or are they all the same?

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toMissSusan

MissSusan

I've never used it so can't recommend a brand but it is cheap.

Why do you want to supplement with it? Have you had an iron panel/full blood count done?

I couldn't get on with any iron tablets, even the non-constipating Gentle Iron, so to raise my ferritin I ate liver. Now I occasionally take an iron tablet, about once a week, but use a whole food supplement (vegetable and fruit blend).

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan in reply toSeasideSusie

I really can't stand the taste of liver. I bought desiccated liver tablets but they're very expensive. I started taking them in June 2018 but I don't think they're raising my ferritin enough.

Serum ferritin level 36.7 ug/L [20.0 - 130.0] 17/04/18

Serum ferritin level 43.5 ug/L [20.0 - 130.0] 27/03/19

This is my recent full blood count.

Haemoglobin concentration 134 g/L [117.0 - 149.0]

Total white blood count 7.4 10*9/L [4.3 - 11.2]

Platelet count - observation 277 10*9/L [155.0 - 421.0]

Red blood cell count 4.50 10*12/L [3.85 - 5.15]

Mean cell volume 88.0 fL [81.0 - 97.0]

Haematocrit 0.398 [0.347 - 0.445]

Mean cell haemoglobin level 29.8 pg [26.9 - 33.0]

Mean cell haemoglobin concentration 337 g/L [320.0 - 359.0]

Neutrophil count 4.78 10*9/L [2.1 - 7.4]

Lymphocyte count 1.73 10*9/L [1.0 - 3.6]

Monocyte count - observation 0.57 10*9/L [0.3 - 1.0]

Eosinophil count - observation 0.23 10*9/L [0.02 - 0.5]

Basophil count 0.05 10*9/L [0.02 - 0.1]

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toMissSusan

I really can't stand the taste of liver

Have you tried disguising it - chop small/mince and put in curries, bolognese, cottage pie, chilli, any meat dish.

Also the following helps:

Liver pate

Black pudding

Other iron rich foods - apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...

Your results don't suggest iron deficiency anaemia so it's just your ferritin that's low.

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan in reply toSeasideSusie

SeasideSusie I'm such a fussy b*gger - the only thing I do really like is pate.

It's the yeasty, metallic taste I can't seem to hide it. Although I've heard that chicken liver has a milder taste, so I could give that a go.

I am shattered all the time and my hair is dire so I really need to get my ferritin levels up.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply toMissSusan

Yes, chicken liver is the mildest and I believe it may have a bit more iron than other liver. Pate is good!

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan in reply toSeasideSusie

Fab - right I'll give the chicken liver a go as I think I'll have to eat a lot of pate to get the equivalent amount of iron. Plus the calories are higher and I'm trying to lose weight.

Kokica profile image
Kokica in reply toMissSusan

Lucky you! My ferritin is 3!

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I've bought it from Lloyds Pharmacies or Tesco Pharmacies (without prescription). Although the brand doesn't matter, this is the brand I usually get supplied with :

waltonpharmacy.co.uk/images...

I've also bought this one a few times, but it was a few years ago :

i.ebayimg.com/images/g/35IA...

BadHare profile image
BadHare

It's OTC, but why do you want to take an industrial biproduct when better forms are available?

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan in reply toBadHare

Such as?

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toMissSusan

I take iron bisglycinate & ferric ammonium citrate. I don't get upset digestion with iron sulphate, though some people do.

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply toBadHare

Cost

You can buy it at the pharmacy counter in many pharmacies (inc Tesco) and in online UK pharmacies - but not Boots and some others. Tell the pharmacist that your doctor knows you are taking it but buying it directly is cheaper than a prescription

MissSusan profile image
MissSusan

Feeling a bit stupid so apologies for the question in advance.

I've read not to eat more than 200g of liver a week due to the vitamin A content. Would the same weight apply to bought pate - or could I have more considering pate has other ingredients added to it? Thinking I should just make my own!

BadHare profile image
BadHare in reply toMissSusan

I can't answer that one, but do find I need a lower dose of supplements when I'm eating cavolo nero, &/or my favourite watercress, spinach & rocket salad. These also have a good dose of vitamin C to improve absorption, but might not be as good for people who find these veg goitrogenic or have a problem with phytates. I eat lots of lentils & beans (not unfermented soy) for iron, too. Sourdough bread, as opposed to other forms of cooked grains, enhances mineral absorption.

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