Iron pills or iron supplements are used to treat iron deficiency anemia. While the tablets relieve iron deficiency, there are certain side effects like diarrhea, constipation, nausea, dark stools, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
If taken in excessive amounts, there is a possibility of iron poisoning. Iron pills are prescribed as tablets, gummies, capsules, chewables, and liquid solutions. Your health consultant can help you decide the supplements that suit you best.
Can Iron Tablets Damage The Stomach?
Yes. Iron supplements can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps in some people.
If you do not have anemia, don’t take more than 45 mg daily. You should take the supplements with a small amount of food to avoid pain and cramps. Avoid milk, calcium, and antacids simultaneously as iron supplements. Wait at least 2 hours after taking these foods before iron supplements.
Iron-pill Gastritis
High iron intake causes mucal injury to the stomach walls, similar to a chemical burn. The inorganic ions in the pills corrode the stomach lining and cause inflammation, erosions, and bleeding.
The condition is known as iron-pill gastritis and causes severe pain, irritation, and swelling of the mucosal membranes of the stomach.
Iron-pill gastritis often remains under-reported. Your healthcare provider must be aware of the condition to discontinue oral iron and carry out prompt treatment.
How To Treat Iron Pill Gastritis?
Patients with iron pill gastritis should replace iron tablets and supplements with liquid iron. Iron tablets and pills cause a corrosive mucosal injury that is concentration-dependent.
It means the damage increases with supplement dosage. Liquid iron, on the other hand, doesn’t promote mucosal injury.
The chance of a person being diagnosed with iron-pill gastritis is low. Not every stomach hurt is gastritis. If your stomach hurts after iron supplements, it’s possibly due to overdose or side effects. In this case, simply fixing iron intake can relieve the pain.
Possible Side Effects
Along with the needed effects, iron supplements have side effects listed below. Not all side effects occur in a single person. However, if you experience two or more, consult your doctor.
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Flushing
- Metallic taste
- Chest pain
- Back or muscle pain
- Headache
- Vomiting or nausea
Less common side effects are:
- Weakness without dizziness
- Double vision
Symptoms Of Iron Overdose
Early Symptoms
- Nausea
- Severe vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
Late Symptoms
- Fast and weak heartbeat
- Rapid and shallow breathing
- Clammy, pale skin
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Seizures
- Bluish-colored fingernails, palms, and lips
Some side effects don’t need medical attention and go away as the body adjusts to the supplement. Also, your medical professional can help you prevent or reduce these side effects. If you notice any other side effects (not listed here), consult your healthcare professional.
What To Know About Taking This Medicine?
Take your medicine as prescribed by the doctor or nurse. If you have problems with taking medicine, call your doctor before replacing it.
- Take the pills before 1 hour or after 2 hours of the food i.e., on an empty stomach. You may need to take supplements with food to avoid stomach burns.
- Don’t drink milk or caffeine drinks (cola, tea, coffee) at the same time as iron pills. These drinks prevent the body from absorbing iron well into it.
- Consider taking medicine with orange juice or other vitamin C-containing foods (it helps the body to absorb iron well).
- As discussed earlier, iron pills can cause stomach burns. Drink plenty of water and add vegetables, fruits, and dietary fiber.
- Iron pills change the color of stool to grayish or greenish-black. However, internal bleeding can cause dark stool. See your doctor if you notice any color changes.
- If you miss taking medicine on time, don’t complement it with a double dose. Instead, take the next medicine on time.
- Liquid iron can stain your teeth. It is advisable to mix the doze in fruit juice, tomato juice, or water. Drink the medicine with a straw so the medicine does not contact your teeth.
Normal Intake Of Iron Pills
Iron pills treat only iron deficiency anemia and not other types such as aplastic anemia, hemolytic anemia, and vitamin-deficiency anemia. The iron you need daily depends on gender, age, and pregnancy status.
If you eat a balanced diet, you will get the required iron from food. Supplements are needed if you are not meeting the iron requirements of your body.
The NIH recommends the following iron intakes for all age groups:
- 0.27 mg- Birth to six months
- 11mg- seven months to 1 year old children
- 7 mg- one to three years old children
- 10 mg- four to eight years old children
- 8 mg- nine to thirteen years old children
- 11 mg- fourteen to eighteen years old males
- 15 mg- fourteen to eighteen years old females
- 8 mg- nineteen to fifty years old males
- 18 mg- nineteen to fifty years old females
- 8 mg- fifty-one years and older adults
- 27 mg- pregnant teens
- 27 mg- pregnant adults
- 10 mg- breastfeeding teens
- 9 mg- breastfeeding adults
What not to eat after iron tablets?
If you are taking iron supplements, avoid following foods or at least take in smaller amounts:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Yogurt and cheese
- Breads, cereals, bran
- Spinach
- Coffee or tea
Conclusion
Iron is needed by the body to produce red blood cells. If required iron is not supplied to the body, it cannot produce the normal number of red blood cells (4.7-6.1 million in males and 4.2- 5.4 million in females) to remain in a healthy condition.
Most people fulfill their iron requirements from their daily diet, but some need supplements to meet their iron needs. Small amounts of iron are also lost due to bleeding in the body that you may not be aware of. If you are experiencing the above-mentioned symptoms, consult your doctor.
Only he can tell if you have iron deficiency, how it is caused, and whether you need supplements or not.