How To Handle Diarrhea Brought On By Iron Supplements?

Iron supplements can cause constipation, nausea, and diarrhea in some individuals. To prevent dehydration, it is essential to drink plenty of fluids, avoid fried or greasy foods, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol, and take iron pills with food to avoid gastrointestinal side effects. Consume more vegetables and fiber-rich foods, such as bananas and sweet potatoes, to prevent or treat constipation. Iron tablets can cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. To avoid these side effects, drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits. Iron supplementation and fortification can induce diarrhea by causing intestinal damage through oxidative stress or initiating bacterial dysibiosis. If taking antacids, take iron tablets at least two hours before or four hours after the antacids. If you are experiencing dehydration, try small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration.

The most common side effects of iron supplements are stomach-related, such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. Different forms of iron have a different absorption process, leading to oxidation and subsequent gut inflammation. The iron can be passed out of the body through the urine, and other treatments include rehydration, especially if there has been a significant loss of fluids.

How to stop diarrhea when taking iron supplements?

Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach. Yet, iron supplements can cause stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea in some people. You may need to take iron with a small amount of food to avoid this problem.

Milk, calcium and antacids should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements. You should wait at least 2 hours after having these foods before taking your iron supplements.

Foods that you should not eat at the same time as you take your iron include:

• High fiber foods, such as whole grains, raw vegetables, and bran
• Foods or drinks with caffeine

What helps you poop when taking iron?

Summary. If you need to take iron supplements, eat fiber-rich foods, drink plenty of water, and stay physically active. Too much iron can lead to constipation. You may consider training yourself to have daily bowel movements. You can take stool softeners or fiber supplements if diet changes don’t ease constipation.

Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms last longer than a week or if you have blood in your stool.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Parvataneni S, Maw M. Ileus due to iron pills: a case report and literature report on the importance of stool softeners. Cureus. 2020;12:e8392. doi:10. 7759/cureus. 8392.

Do iron supplement side effects go away?

Constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, or upset stomach may occur. These effects are usually temporary and may disappear as your body adjusts to this medication. If any of these effects last or get worse, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Follow all directions on the product package, or take as directed by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended dosage. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach (usually if taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). If stomach upset occurs, you may take this medication with food. See the instructions below for the liquid drops for infants/children. Avoid taking antacids, dairy products, tea, or coffee within 2 hours before or after this medication because they will decrease its effectiveness.

Take tablets or capsules with a full glass of water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking your tablet or capsule dose.

How do you get rid of excess iron in your body?

Iron chelation therapy: This medication removes extra iron from your body. It’s taken by mouth at home or injected into the blood by a healthcare provider. Therapeutic phlebotomy: This procedure uses a needle and tube to remove blood, and the iron it contains, from your body.

What causes hemochromatosis?. There are two types of hemochromatosis, each with different causes.

An inherited genetic change is the most common cause. It’s called primary hemochromatosis, hereditary hemochromatosis or classical hemochromatosis. With primary hemochromatosis, problems with the DNA come from both parents and cause the body to absorb too much iron.

In secondary hemochromatosis, medical treatments or other medical conditions cause the iron overload. Examples include:

How can I improve my iron digestion?

To boost iron absorption:Consume vitamin C (found in fruits and vegetables). Include animal protein (haem) with plant (non-haem) sources of iron, such as meat with beans. For example, beef and kidney beans in a chilli con carne. Cook plant sources of iron (such as vegetables).

• Iron is an important dietary mineral that is involved in various bodily functions, including the transport of oxygen in the blood.
• Dietary iron is found in animal and plant foods. Iron deficiency can be treated by adding iron-rich foods to your diet.
• Iron deficiency is when your body’s iron stores are too low. Common causes include not getting enough iron in your diet, chronic blood loss, pregnancy and vigorous exercise.
• Some foods and drinks affect how much iron your body absorbs.
• If you have iron deficiency anaemia, your GP (doctor) may recommend iron supplements. Keep iron supplements away from babies and young children – overdoses can be fatal.

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This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

How do you flush excess iron from your body?

Treatment. Blood removal. Health care providers can treat hemochromatosis safely and effectively by removing blood from the body on a regular basis. This is similar to donating blood. The process is known as phlebotomy.

The goal of phlebotomy is to lower your iron levels. The amount of blood removed and how often it’s removed depend on your age, your overall health and the severity of iron overload.

• Initial treatment schedule. In the beginning, you may have a pint (about 470 milliliters) of blood taken once or twice a week — usually in a hospital or your provider’s office. While you lean back in a chair, a needle is inserted into a vein in your arm. The blood flows from the needle into a tube that’s attached to a blood bag. The process of removing blood is referred to as therapeutic blood removal.
• Maintenance treatment schedule. Once your iron levels go down, blood can be removed less often, typically every 2 to 3 months. Some people may maintain typical iron levels without having any blood taken. Some may need to have blood removed monthly. The schedule depends on how quickly iron builds up in your body.

Treating hemochromatosis can help relieve symptoms of tiredness, stomach pain and skin darkening. It can help prevent serious complications such as liver disease, heart disease and diabetes. If you already have one of these conditions, phlebotomy may slow the progression of the disease. In some cases, it may even reverse it.

Can I eat a banana with my iron pill?

Abstract. Pregnant woman is one group anemia risk. The government policy in supplement tablet fe-folat at least 90 tablet during pregnant. Iron tablet consumption can generate side effects that annoying as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and constipation. Research purposes to know the influence of iron tablet consumption and folic acid with bananas against elevated levels of haemoglobin and side effects on gastrointestinal pregnant women. Experimental research (one group pre-postest design). Sample of 24 pregnant women with 2 years, and pregnant mother age is 20-35 years. Variables that measure is pre-post Hb levels and side effects on the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Hb levels were analyzed with Paired T-Test and side effects were tested by Mc Nemar (α = 0. 05). Result of research, mean of Hb level of pre 11. 71 gr% and post 12. 66 gr% (mean increase is 0, 95 gr%). Test Paired T-Tes, t = -7. 489, p 0. 05. Consumption of iron and folate tablets with bananas can increase Hb levels quickly and can reduce side effects of nausea, vomiting, and constipation. It is recommended for health workers to improve education to pregnant women to consume iron tablets using bananas.

Should I stop taking iron if my poop is green?

• Try to take the pills on an empty stomach about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. But you may need to take the iron with food to avoid a stomach ache.
• Do not take antacids or drink milk or caffeine drinks (such as coffee, tea, or cola) at the same time or within 2 hours of the time that you take your iron pills. They can keep your body from absorbing the iron well.
• Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. You may want to take iron pills with a glass of orange juice or some other food high in vitamin C.
• Iron pills may cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits, vegetables, and fibre each day.
• Iron pills can change the colour of your stool to a greenish or grayish black. This is normal. But internal bleeding also can cause dark stool. So be sure to tell your doctor about any colour changes.
• Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your iron pills. Even after you start feeling better, it will take several months for your body to build up its supply of iron.
• If you miss taking a pill on time, do not take a double dose of iron. Take your next dose at the scheduled time.

Is diarrhea a symptom of too much iron?

Iron is a mineral essential to life, but taking too much iron can cause severe symptoms, liver damage, and even death. Symptoms develop in stages and begin with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Liver failure can develop days later.

Iron is a mineral essential to life, but taking too much iron can cause severe symptoms, liver damage, and even death.

Symptoms develop in stages and begin with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

The diagnosis is based on the person’s history, symptoms, and the amount of iron in the blood.

How can I take iron without diarrhea?

Ferrous fumarate works best when you take it on an empty stomach. If you can, take it at least an hour before eating, and 2 hours after eating. But if it upsets your stomach, you can take it with or just after food.

Your doctor (or a pharmacist) may recommend taking ferrous fumarate with orange juice or a vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C is believed to increase the amount of iron absorbed by the body.

Swallow tablets or capsules with a drink of water or juice only. Do not take them with milk, as milk stops the iron getting into your system.

The liquid may be easier for children and people who find it difficult to swallow tablets or capsules.