# My iron pills make me sick. Remedies? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468 "2003-06-03T22:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/21 "2011-08-18T18:37:30Z")
Zsofia, if you can find a children’s chewable vitiman with iron, you might try those. Adult iron supplements give me nausea, but the kids stuff (if I can remember to take them before bed) have been working for me. Sweetnurse64, a friend of mine with a really delicate tummy swears by liquid supplements. I don’t know what kind she uses, but a google search turned up several. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/22 "2011-08-18T18:44:59Z")
You might also try prenatal vitamins. They have a decent amount of iron in them but not so much that they make me ill. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/23 "2011-08-18T22:17:07Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > Zsofia, if you can find a children’s chewable vitiman with iron, you might try those. Adult iron supplements give me nausea, but the kids stuff (if I can remember to take them before bed) have been working for me. > Sweetnurse64, a friend of mine with a really delicate tummy swears by liquid supplements. I don’t know what kind she uses, but a google search turned up several. I thought the kids’ vitamins didn’t have iron in them anymore because the little bastards kept ODing on them? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/24 "2011-08-18T22:23:43Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > i developed anemia after giving too much blood over too short a period of time. my hematologist suggested five weeks of transfusions, once a week. i responded so well to it he cut it to four weeks and i was back to normal. > > ymmv, depending on the type of anemia, but i’d check with your doctor about them. Wait. :dubious: You got anemia because you donated too much blood, so to fix that you … accepted some donated blood? I think I see where you could have skipped a few steps … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/25 "2011-08-18T23:06:58Z")
Whenever I’m concerned about my iron levels, I eat a big spinach salad with deli roast beef on it and wash it all down with a big glass of OJ. Always works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Infoseeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e68b1a/32.png) [@Infoseeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infoseeker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/26 "2011-08-19T14:58:19Z")
The whole spinach as a great source of iron was a typo, that was corrected a while ago. You’d have to eat ten kilos of red meat for 300mg of iron. ^-^; Non of the iron-foods are a practical option for you. You NEED to take the pill. On another note though, 'how to take a pill and get over the nauseous feeling?" You can try eating ginger candy like Chime’s Ginger chews or Reed’s Ginger chews. Other option is shocking yourself out of the feeling taking a tablespoon full Applecider vinegar directly. Then drinking water after to get its taste out and dilute it in your stomach. ---
**Author:** ![Melanie12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Melanie12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melanie12)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/27 "2016-01-23T18:22:11Z")
> [@sweetnurse64](#): > > I juzt realized the date of these posts! I came to it through a Google search but if anyone else sees this maybe they can help me. My Dr. said my iron levels came back extremely low and put me on Ferrous Fumarate 100 mg three times a day. The pharmacist said to take it on an empty stomach as the iron would not absorb if you have food or even milk/juice. I started taking them yesterday and by this morning they are making me vomit! Not even just nauseau… I could NOT hold anything in. I hate throwing up! So now I am not sure what to do? If I take it with food then my iron levels won’t go up and if I take it on empty stomach makes me sick. ☹ I think 900 mg/day is quite a bit though? 😕 > Thanks for any help! Coming from personal experience I wouldn’t think too much into things like nausea. You’re more than likely backed up from the amount of iron being brought into your body so it’s going to set some things off. As for the food thing, that’s bull poop. You can eat. Just stick away from things dairy based and coffees as such. I strongly suggest you try taking some sort of vitamin c tablet or eating foods containing vit c to help absorb the iron and also eating or taking supplements which are high in fibre to help unclog your system. Still best off contacting your doctor (especially due to the frequent vomiting) rather than googling things or even listening to the ladies at the pharmacy. Im sure they mean well but you’re better off going by what the dr says. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/28 "2016-01-23T18:41:52Z")
Iron should ALWAYS be taken with food, especially foods rich in vitamin C. If solid tablets upset your stomach, you can use liquid (diluted, because it can stain your teeth) or chewable tablets. Using cast-iron pans also helps with iron levels, because a bit of the iron leaches into the food. This is harmless unless you have hemochromatosis, and you definitely don’t have that if you’re anemic. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/29 "2016-01-23T18:48:01Z")
Zombies need brains, not iron. ---
**Author:** ![SheilaVG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@SheilaVG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SheilaVG)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/30 "2016-08-24T16:41:25Z")
What I am having a hard time finding an answer on is? Why is it recommended to take iron pills when the stomach is empty? So it’s absorbed in the bloodstream as opposed to digested in the digestion system? I’m assuming that is correct but can’t find an answer - even on Web MD. When I took my first one, I think it was far enough from my last meal. I almost instantly felt queasy and felt that way this morning until I ate and too my daily vitamin. Just curious.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/31 "2016-08-24T17:52:35Z")
> [@SheilaVG](#): > > What I am having a hard time finding an answer on is? Why is it recommended to take iron pills when the stomach is empty? So it’s absorbed in the bloodstream as opposed to digested in the digestion system? I’m assuming that is correct but can’t find an answer - even on Web MD. > > When I took my first one, I think it was far enough from my last meal. I almost instantly felt queasy and felt that way this morning until I ate and too my daily vitamin. Just curious.🙂 This is an old thread that has been revived now more than once. The reason is to promote absorption of the iron, and to avoid it reacting with other foods such as dairy products. [Here is a link to an article on the subject.](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007478.htm) If you are having a problem with iron supplements you should discuss the subject with your doctor. Iron supplements are usually recommended to restore the body’s iron reserves maintained in the liver as [ferritin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritin) due to some form of anemia. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/32 "2016-08-24T19:04:33Z")
Since this is a recurring question - I wanted to point out that they make all sorts of chewable and melt-in-your-mouth versions of iron pills. I can’t vouch for their flavors, but chewables are less likely to screw up your stomach. Here’s one that’s “Chewy Bite Chocolate Raspberry Truffle” flavor: > **[Amazon.com: Bariatric Advantage Iron Chewy Bite Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (30...](https://www.amazon.com/Bariatric-Advantage-Chocolate-Raspberry-30/dp/B003S6CENY)** > > Buy Bariatric Advantage Iron Chewy Bite Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (30 mg iron, 60 mg vitamin c) 30 count on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders There’s an Orange flavor from Centrum - > **[Amazon.com: Centrum Chewable Multivitamin for Adults, 100 Count : Health &...](https://www.amazon.com/Centrum-Multivitamin-Multimineral-Supplement-Chewable/dp/B000RKVS5E)** > > Buy Centrum Chewable Multivitamin for Adults, 100 Count on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders Berry flavored - > **[Amazon.com: Celebrate Iron + C 60 mg chewable Berry - 90 Count : Health &...](https://www.amazon.com/Celebrate-Iron-60-chewable-Berry/dp/B00D4BUIGI)** > > Buy Celebrate Iron + C 60 mg chewable Berry - 90 Count on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders Even Flintstones has a chewable with Iron - > **[Amazon.com: Flintstones Chewable Kids Vitamins with Iron, Multivitamin for Kids...](https://www.amazon.com/Flintstones-Chewable-Multivitamins-Iron-Count/dp/B000GG6CZA)** > > Buy Flintstones Chewable Kids Vitamins with Iron, Multivitamin for Kids & Toddlers with Vitamin D, Vitamin C & more, 60 Count (Pack of 1) on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders So it’d be more expensive, because you’d have to take several a day to meet your prescribed dosage, but it’s an option. Maybe it can be mixed in to take 1 pill a day and then a couple chewables. Maybe that would help with stomach problems. It’s something to ask the doctor about, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/33 "2016-08-24T21:31:41Z")
Since this seems to have devolved into a general iron advice thread, other things I have had recommended to me in the past are: -Stop drinking coffee (NOOOOOO!) -Cook acidic foods like tomato in an iron skillet (which helps leach some of the iron into the food - make your dinner more generally irony) -Drink OJ with your iron intake. A glass of milk with your iron tablet at night seems counterproductive - milk is one of those things that inhibits iron absorbtion. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/34 "2016-08-25T19:48:51Z")
You know, I quit taking the pills years and years ago (obviously) but I should probably start again. Maybe I’ll try the chewables. This thread has officially come full circle. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-iron-pills-make-me-sick-remedies/179468/35 "2016-08-25T20:11:30Z")
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