What are side effects of iron tablets?

Iron Pill side effects?

• I am borderline anaemic and was prescribed iron supplements. The first time I took it, my tongue and throat swelled, I thought it was a viral infection. Next day my foot and jaw started to tingle. It was suddenly as if all my nerves were sensitive. I didn't put it together as it being side effects because I saw 3 different doctors each day that I got worse that told me it had nothing to do with iron pills and they each sent me home. I continued my pills all the while feeling ill, lethargic, weak, numb to sore muscles, constipation, chills, headaches, dizziness and chest pain now. I was generally anxious not knowing what was suddenly wrong. I thought it was a stroke at one point. So I took matters into my hands and researched my symptoms, so many diseases, disorders came up. Finally I narrowed it down to the basic -iron supplement side effects- and every side effect symptom I was experiencing was listed and it says to seek medical attention. Go figure. Doctors really that dumb nowadays? anxious, frustrated and hopeless. So has anyone experienced this while on iron supplements? And how long will it take for the side effects to wear off. I stopped taking pills today after being on them for a wk. I am not actually medically anaemic and will choose to have an iron rich diet. Or should I continue pills in hopes my body will adjust to them?

• Answer:

  I would stop if I was having those side effects and go with an iron rich diet instead...The problem with pills is it isn't just the iron in them, some times they have strange fillers so you don't get ill from too much iron but the fillers, artificial color or artificial falvors to cover up the taste of iron can be worse than the iron. Stick to Spinach and (Yeck) liver, etc.. .It's not that they're dumb they get training that tells them that the only thing that matters is the "Medicine" everything else is just junk. Herbs, Minerals and vitamins, OTC's, But even the AMA has a PDR of herbal medicines, which most doctors ignore..Tell the doctor that you had to quit taking them because they were making you sick. It could have been the fillers and other brands may not effect you the same way. As long as it's border line and you try to compensate with iron rick foods instead and it works you should be fine. If it doesn't tell them you want a diffferent brand. There are multivitamins with iron that may not bother you so much. Iron is harsh on the stomach anyway. As an RN I should support the Dr.s but When they wouldn't treat me and told me to just go home and die, I researched the herbs and pretty much cured my self. Good Luck!