Ferrous fumarate 210mg

[MissSusan]

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

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

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

[MissSusan in reply to SeasideSusie]

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

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to MissSusan]

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 in reply to SeasideSusie]

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 Remembering in reply to MissSusan]

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 in reply to SeasideSusie]

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 Remembering in reply to MissSusan]

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

[MissSusan in reply to SeasideSusie]

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 in reply to MissSusan]

Lucky you! My ferritin is 3!

[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]

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

[MissSusan in reply to BadHare]

Such as?

[BadHare in reply to MissSusan]

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

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to BadHare]

Cost

[Angel_of_the_North]

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]

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 in reply to MissSusan]

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.