Anyone with low iron

So I had my glucose test a week ago. The nurse called me tonight saying my sugar is fine, but my hemoglobin showed my iron was slightly low. She said they usually write a script for Slow Fe (an iron supplement), but the OTC was fine.

She said to go to the pharmacy tom. and ask for the OTC from the pharmacist and to take 1 a day with my pre-natal. She also warned me to buy something for my bowels since this tends to stop you up. Just great!

So I googled this med and it said it is unknown if safe for pregnant women and to let your doctor know if you are pregnant. Anyone else take a supplement? I'm worried about this warning but obviously my doctor knows I'm pregnant.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I have low iron. I take a regular iron supplement, store brand, and I just double up on my greens and *if* absolutely necessary, I take a stool softener.

I use a store brand for the supplement (CVS). And also, take one in the morning and one at night, and before going to any doctor appointments, don't drink milk, coffee, tea, or eat nuts before any bloodwork because they will make your iron levels seem low - I know this from a long time ago when I went to donate blood and they wouldn't let me because I had low iron, and they gave me a pamphlet on what could cause low iron and that was one of the reasons.

Re: Anyone with low iron

that would be me

i read about Slow Fe and a lot of girls were having side effects, so I got Bifera OTC. so far, so good

Re: Anyone with low iron

I have low iron too. I was told to start taking SloFe. I took it for one day and had very uncomfortable abdominal cramping from the constipation. I switched to Floradix, a liquid, herbal iron supplement which doesn't constipate.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I take the SlowFE and haven't had any issues with constipation at all. Everyone's system is different. Try t out and see how it works on you, you can always switch. Also, if you take Vitamins C and/or D with it, it helps absorb the Iron better.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I take an OTC iron supplement 2 times a day with Vitamin C, so it will absorb it better.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I had low iron prior to pregnancy.
Now, my iron levels have gone dangerously low and I need to have iron infusions, despite taking the supplements.


ETA - At 27 wks, I was in L&D last Mon for contractions. Anemia can lead to preterm labor, so it is definately not something to fool around with.

Message edited 9/7/2011 8:36:32 AM.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I take the bifera otc also. My iron is extremely low, we are hoping it goes up within the next couple of weeks.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I took an OTC, CVS brand. I looked for one with vitamin C as if I remember correctly I read that vitamin C can help with the absorption of iron.

I had no issues with my BM. And my DS is now an active 4 month old. I know alot of people who took iron supplements with no issues.

Re: Anyone with low iron

my doc gave me a prescription for an iron supplement, which was making me a bit nauseous when i took it in the morning. so he told me to take it at night instead, which has helped. it also said your BM could go either way, stop you up or non-stop going. since i had terrible constipation in the beginning of the pregnancy i was hoping that wouldn't happen and it didn't! but i have diarrhea more than anything now. sorry for the TMI!!

Re: Anyone with low iron

My doc gave me Corvite 150 (prescription iron) to take, and said to take Colace with it. I didn't take the Colace because it wasn't causing me issues. Took my blood again and iron was still low so they doubled my dosage to the Corvite 150 twice a day. I take the Colace once a day. They advised that I take the Colace twice a day, but I found that I was having "urgency" when doing that, and that was not a good idea...so I'm taking the Corvite in the morning and at night and taking the Colace just at night. They took my iron again over the weekend so we'll see, they said if the iron doesn't improve I will have to have iron infusions.

Re: Anyone with low iron

With DD, I was on Slow Fe and had to take Colace to keep regular every so often.

This time, Dr told me to get Vitron C (OTC), which has Vitamin C in it, and helps in absorbtion while not causing as much constipation. I actually got the CVS brand of Vitron C and it's been fine.

They did however tell me NOT to take it at the same time as the prenatal though because of absorbtion issues, so I take the prenatal in the AM and the Iron at night.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I took this same iron supplement with DD #1. I took is every morning with my prenatal. It never caused any problems with going to the bathroom and my DD was perfectly healthy.

Good luck!

Re: Anyone with low iron

I have low iron. My dr put me on Irospan and as long as I take it with plenty of food, no problems. At all. My dr did say to take it separate from my prenatal though so it wouldn't interfere with absorption.

Message edited 9/7/2011 5:08:18 PM.

Re: Anyone with low iron

I have anemia and found out during my glucose test too.

I take SLOW FE and it hasnt caused any problems with constipation at all.

Re: Anyone with low iron

Re: Anyone with low iron

I have anemia pre-pregnancy and take OTC iron pills. When I got pregnant I doubled my dose and have had no problems. I find drinking lots of water helps. At my glucose test my iron was still low but just slightly.

Re: Anyone with low iron

Me too!!!!!! Im in the same boat. My doctor told me to buy the same thing, but I reminded her that I already had something prescribed by my previous doctor that i filled but never took because my new doctor advised me not to. Soooo I am taking that now. It is called Folitab 500 and has iron, vitamin C, and folate in it, so I had to stop taking my other folic acid supplement. Vitamin C helps you absorb iron better. You have to take it 1 hr before a meal or 2-3 hrs after and you can't take it within 1 hr of taking antacids. I definitely recommend taking Colace. I take the store brand before I go to bed at night. (three 100 mg soft gels)

Good luck!!!!!