Ferrograd C - does it sell in the UK?

[AnnaSo]

Hi all,

I’m in the UK for some time and I can feel that my iron is low again (been a continuous issue for years, I know the signs). In Australia I used to take Ferrograd C with fantastic results. Is there an equivalent here? I haven’t come across it.

Ferrograd: Each tablet contains: Dried ferrous sulfate 325mg (equivalent to 105mg or elemental iron) Sodium ascorbate (equivalent to 500mg or ascorbic acid Vit.C).

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

AnnaSo

It's a prescription item in the UK. However, you should be able to buy just ferrous sulphate from some pharmacies, Amazon or eBay and take some Vit C with it.

[AnnaSo in reply to SeasideSusie]

Oooh I see. That makes sense. I’ll speak to the local GP, perhaps they could prescribe as that’s the only thing that works for me other than an IV. Thanks Susie!!!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

Are you sure about that, Susie?

Doesn't say Prescription-only Medicince (POM) or "Pharmacy" on the UK Patient Information Leaflet.

mhraproductsproduction.blob...

The British National Formulary more or less says doctors can't prescribe it!

NHS restrictions

Ferrograd C® is not prescribable in NHS primary care.

Less suitable for prescribing

Ferrograd C® is less suitable for prescribing.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/ferrou...

Appears readily available online - though some are out of stock.

[AnnaSo in reply to helvella]

Lloyd’s Pharmacy has it listed as Prescription item

lloydspharmacy.com/en/ferro...

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to AnnaSo]

We have seen before that some pharmacies seem to impose a higher category on some medicines.

When the Lloyds site eventually responded, yes, they are classing is as Prescription-only Medicine! And are out of stock.

This one just does the usual checks for a Pharmacy medicine (and there are many others):

totalpharmacy.co.uk/ferrogr...

[AnnaSo in reply to helvella]

I see, I didn’t know that. Is Total Pharmacy as safe place to purchase? I never heard of them before

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to AnnaSo]

It was just a randomly selected pharmacy site!

I have no reason to trust (nor to distrust) them any more or less than any other official UK pharmacy operating online. They do handle NHS prescriptions and appear to have all the expected symbols!

There are many such companies.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to helvella]

helvella

I Googled and checked with about 3 pharmacies and went through the purchasing procedure. They either mentioned "prescription item" or you had to go through a series of questions to give information about what condition you wanted the item for, how long had you had this condition, etc, and it then said that a pharmacist may contact you.

It's not available on AmazonUK but is available on Amazon.com

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SeasideSusie]

Strange, isn't it, how they vary.

[MissFG]

I use Spatone Liquid Iron Supplement Apple Flavour with Vitamin C, 28 Sachets x 25 ml off amazon for £9.36 approximately.

It keeps my levels in check and I feel much better than taking any iron pills

[AnnaSo in reply to MissFG]

Hi! Thanks for sharing, I have tried it in the past but it doesn’t work for me unfortunately.

[Hashiwarrior99]

I have bought ferrograd C successfully from online pharmacies in the past. They used to sell it in boots, but stopped for some reason.

[AnnaSo in reply to Hashiwarrior99]

Thanks for letting me know! I just had a look and came across a product that’s in red/yellow box- is that the one you had?

[Hashiwarrior99 in reply to AnnaSo]

Yes that’s the one I bought. Dont know if it’s exactly the same product, but, similarly to you, it’s the only one that helped my iron levels.

[AnnaSo in reply to Hashiwarrior99]

The ingredients list looks the same so I guess it should be the same. Just confused as Lloyd’s pharmacy requires prescription for it whilst some other (unknown) online pharmacies don’t... not sure what to think about.

It’s fantastic isn’t it I have bought two other products here which are making no difference. With Ferrograd C I usually feel better without a couple of days of taking it. They were my lifesaver after years of anemia.

[Stourie]

Hi Anna, couldn't you get someone from Australia to send you some? Jo xx

[AnnaSo in reply to Stourie]

I thought that would be my last resort 🙂 I managed to order online 🙂

[humanbean]

I would phone up various pharmacies and ask if they keep it in stock and can it be bought without prescription.

I get my prescription-strength ferrous fumarate 210mg from Tesco Pharmacies and from Lloyds Pharmacies without prescription. In each case I go in person and ask. If I've ever been refused (Boots refused me once) I just go to an independent pharmacy or a different chain.

[AnnaSo in reply to humanbean]

That’s a great idea, didn’t think about that! I just thought that it’s not available here but seems it is just not as present as in Australia where I’d say it’s one of the most, if not the most popular one. I managed to order some from an online pharmacy after recommendations here 🙂

[Elisabeth41]

Ferrograd C worked brilliantly for me too AnnaSo . I was recommended it by Hairline International to help with extremely thinning hair which I was suffering from at the time, in order to raise my ferritin. I always purchased it from Boots and was only ever asked if I had used the product before. It was quite some time ago though so I don't know if Boots have changed their policy.

[AnnaSo in reply to Elisabeth41]

It is a brilliant product, I only wish I discovered it sooner! 🙂 If Boots sells it that would be great, I will pop in and ask next time I’m in town 🙂