High-dose iron supplements can have side effects including nausea, constipation and bloating. These may make taking supplements difficult, so treatment should be a short-term option only.
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 the body's iron stores in the bone marrow.
To treat iron deficiency anaemia, you'll need to take it for several months. 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.
After the iron deficiency anemia is corrected, iron supplementation should be continued for 3 months in order to replenish iron stores; Depending on your situation, your doctor may need to monitor your hemoglobin and red blood cell levels for an additional 3 to 6 months.
Iron levels usually start dropping after about 2 weeks of stopping taking iron supplements.
Oral iron supplements usually start working in about 3 to 7 days. But your hemoglobin levels could take up to 2 months to return to normal. Common side effects of iron include constipation, nausea, and stomach pain. Taking your iron with food can help prevent an upset stomach.
While there's little scientific evidence backing this claim up, weight gain from iron pills does happen 6. One study found that individuals with iron deficiency anemia complained of weight gain during their treatment, even though oral preparations of iron aren't known to cause weight gain as a side effect.
However, too much iron is toxic. Excess iron gets deposited in your organs, and this then interferes with normal body functions, as well as the production of hormones that regulate your metabolism and sex drive. Not surprisingly, you don't feel well.
Large amounts of iron might also cause more serious effects, including inflammation of the stomach lining and ulcers. High doses of iron can also decrease zinc absorption. Extremely high doses of iron (in the hundreds or thousands of mg) can cause organ failure, coma, convulsions, and death.
However, two recent research studies under-taken in non-emergency situations suggest that weekly iron supplementation may be as effective as daily supplementation in restoring haemoglobin levels.
However, one possible alternative is a diet high in iron-rich foods. Eating iron-rich foods with a good source of vitamin C as part of the same meal can improve the body's absorption of iron. The following foods are high in vitamin C: oranges.
In many cases, mild iron deficiency anemia comes on so gradually that you may not even know you're anemic. Symptoms of mild anemia are subtle and include feeling grumpy, weak or tired more often than usual and getting headaches or perhaps having problems concentrating.
Iron deficiency can cause problems such as fatigue, poor concentration and anaemia. The best treatment for iron deficiency depends on the cause. Treatments may include eating foods high in iron, eating foods high in vitamin C to help iron absorption, or taking iron supplements.
Mild anemia is a common and treatable condition that can develop in anyone. It may come about suddenly or over time, and may be caused by your diet, medicines you take, or another medical condition. Anemia can also be chronic, meaning it lasts a long time and may never go away completely.
The iron supplement should be taken with a full cup of water to make sure it does not get stuck in the esophagus. 4. To reduce the risk of reflux, the person should not lie down for 30 to 60 minutes after taking the iron supplement.
Specifically, iron plays an important role in how your body makes the neurotransmitters called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine – all of them important in mental health. Research suggests a connection between low iron levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, Levin and Gattari write.
Extreme fatigue and exhaustion “Fatigue is one of the most common signs of iron deficiency because it means your body is having trouble carrying the oxygen to your cells so it's affecting your energy levels,” Thayer says. People lacking enough iron in their blood often feel sluggish, weak, and unable to focus.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
Left untreated, however, iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and weak. You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath.
The short answer is yes. This can be for both medical and lifestyle reasons. For example, if you are trying to improve your iron intake through diet and the consumption of iron-rich foods, this is likely to lead to an increase in healthy meals, which can contribute to weight loss.
Most people with iron deficiency have no symptoms, so taking iron pills may not result in any obvious changes to how they feel. A doctor can verify if the pills are working via a blood test. However, if a person does have anemia symptoms, they may notice they get better or go away entirely.
You may tire easily. You also may feel grumpy, have headaches, and have trouble concentrating. Most people begin to feel normal after a few weeks of taking iron pills.
Taking iron tablets can turn the stool a dark, almost black color (actually dark green). This is normal, and does not mean that the iron tablets are causing GI bleeding. Children are at particular risk of iron poisoning (overdose), making it very important to store iron tablets out of the reach of children.