You can take iron tablets long-term (permanently) only if a doctor confirms a chronic deficiency, like from surgery or heavy bleeding, but it's crucial to monitor for side effects and iron overload, as routine long-term use isn't generally recommended due to risks like constipation, nausea, and potential cell damage; always get a diagnosis and follow your doctor's specific guidance.
Taking more iron than your body needs can cause serious medical problems. Blood counts return to normal after 2 months of iron therapy for most people. You should continue taking supplements for another 6 to 12 months to build up your body's iron stores in your bone marrow. Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach.
Elevated ingestion of ferrous iron leads to the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress [3]. High tissue concentrations of iron are associated with a number of pathologies including some cancers, inflammation, diabetes, liver and heart disease [4].
Excessive iron can be damaging to the gastrointestinal system. Symptoms of iron toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Over time, iron can accumulate in the organs, and cause fatal damage to the liver or brain. Other issues can occur as well as this is not a complete list.
Symptoms of iron overload disorder include:
Your doctor will usually advise you to keep taking it for 3 to 6 months after your condition has improved to help build up your body's iron supply.
What are the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia?
There's currently no cure for haemochromatosis, but there are treatments that can reduce the amount of iron in your body. This can help relieve some of the symptoms and reduce the risk of damage to organs such as the heart, liver and pancreas.
Taking unnecessary iron supplements can affect your body's ability to absorb other minerals, including calcium, also they can cause side effects, such as constipation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Anemia due to iron deficiency is a highly prevalent medical condition in women and children. Iron deficiency presents with fatigue, low mood, anxiety, restlessness, palpitations, and headache. Poor nutritional intake can be the reason of iron deficiency in underprivileged populations.
If you're taking ferrous fumarate on prescription, it's important to take it for as long as your doctor tells you to. Are there any long-term side effects? It's safe to take ferrous fumarate for as long as you need to, provided that your doctor has said it's OK and you are not having any side effects.
Iron deficiency is a common but preventable condition. Recognising the 3 stages of iron deficiency-iron depletion, iron-deficient erythropoiesis, and iron-deficiency anaemia-can help you take timely action to prevent this condition.
Iron pills typically start to work within 3 to 7 days. However, it can take some time to actually get your iron levels up. Hemoglobin blood levels generally go up after 2 to 4 weeks of consistent supplementation. Symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and headache should start to improve during this timeframe.
Haemochromatosis is a condition where too much iron can build up in the body. This can damage the liver and other organs if untreated.
With early diagnosis and treatment, a normal lifespan is possible. If organ damage has already occurred, treatment may prevent further damage and improve life expectancy. However, treatment may not be able to reverse existing damage. If hemochromatosis isn't treated, it can lead to severe organ damage or even death.
Iron poisoning is a potential cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than age 5. It first irritates the stomach and digestive tract, sometimes causing bleeding. Within hours, iron poisons the cells, interfering with their internal chemical reactions. Within days, the liver can be damaged.
Iron is depleted by blood loss (heavy periods, bleeding ulcers, surgery), increased demand (pregnancy, growth spurts, intense exercise), poor dietary intake, and conditions that hinder iron absorption (celiac disease, gastric bypass, some medications, or certain foods/drinks like tea/coffee/dairy with meals). Exercise can cause loss through sweating, red blood cell damage (hemolysis), and increased needs, while poor absorption is a major factor, even with good intake.
How do I use an at-home iron test?
Possibly. The term "pica" describes craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice, known as pagophagia, is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia may include: Being pale or having yellow "sallow" skin. Unexplained fatigue or lack of energy. Shortness of breath or chest pain, especially with activity.
Inhibitors of iron absorption include phytate, which is a compound found in plant-based diets that demonstrate a dose-dependent effect on iron absorption. Polyphenols are found in black and herbal tea, coffee, wine, legumes, cereals, fruit, and vegetables and have been demonstrated to inhibit iron absorption.
Dr. Laster says this is a normal side effect caused by the way iron pills are broken down in the gut. Supplements that contain activated charcoal — which are sometimes touted as a remedy for gas and bloating — can also darken your poop.
You may experience common symptoms of hemochromatosis, like fatigue and joint pain, if your iron levels are too high. Hemochromatosis can cause your skin to appear gray or bronze. Get help if you suspect iron overload and have changes in skin color, irregular heartbeats, and shortness of breath.
The most widely cited nutritional causes of hair loss include iron, one of the key micronutrients in metabolism of our body.