Question:
How can I get 325 mg Iron in a day???
Hi Everyone! This question has been bugging me for a week now and I've decided to get your help! My dr. advises his patients to take 325 mg of Iron a day. I have been happily taking "SlowFE Slow Release Iron" which is 160 mg dried ferrous sulfate twice a day with Vitamin C since a few weeks after surgery. (I'm now 8 weeks out.) THEN I started reading things about how the gastric bypass patient can't absorb a slow release tablet correctly. And here I was thinking I found the perfect Iron b/c the box also says "fewer incidence of GI side effects when compared to immediate release Iron tabs." Then I checked out Vitalady's website and quite a few others. All other types of Iron I have found have only 18 - 25 mg of Iron a day. That would mean taking 13 to 18 pills a day....YIKES. That feels like overdosing!!! Do you think I should just keep taking my SlowFE until I get my first set of blood tests? Or do you have any better or different suggestions? — Louise D. (posted on December 27, 2003)
December 27, 2003
Are you sure the dosage the Dr. prescribed is correct? I have had anemia
for three years and took 324 mcg (micrograms) twice a day. Now after
surgery I take just 15 mg (milligrams) once a day and my bloodwork has been
great. I would check on that because I believe that is a toxic level.
Good luck!
— kathy S.
December 27, 2003
The 325mg your doc recommends is thinking in terms of ferrous sulfate (iron
slats). That's only 65mg elemental iron, so it's not hard to match that.
You're right that it is not as well absorbed as many other forms.
Polysaccharride form comes in 150mg (elemental), so is worth TWO of the fe
sulfate. The carbonyl iron comes in 25mg, so it would take 3 to = 75mg
elemental. Once you swtich your brain over to ELEMENTAL iron, it's easier
to run comparisons. As to iron types, both of the above are gentle &
well absorbed. There are glycinate, bisglycinate, and trisglycinate forms,
as well, but I've not gotten quite as good a result with those forms, nor
with ferrous gluconate nor fumarate. Whichever one you choose, watch for
elemental iron, shoot for APPX 65mg. Iron is always taken with C, not with
caffeine or dairy, other vites, minerals or meds (unless ok with your
pharmacist), alone together for at least an hour.
— vitalady
December 27, 2003
sigh. someone take away my keyboard or teach me to type. Make that iron
SALTS. I'm sure slats are helpful, in some unknown way, but iron SALTS is
how ferrous sulfate is measured.
— vitalady
December 27, 2003
Hello. The iron I take is from Walmart. It is spring valley brand. It says
Iron (as Ferrous Sulfate 325mg) 65mg. So I think if it is 65 mg that is the
same as 325mg of Ferrus sulfate. I may be wrong but that is what I take.
Good Luck.
— AmyWollet
December 27, 2003
Louise....as a nurse, I know that 325 mg of iron is a very common dosage.
It comes as 325 mg of Ferrous Sulfate, which provides 65 mg. of elemental
iron per tabled. Therefore, if your doctor recommends 325 mg of iron per
day, this is one small tablet (you don't have to cut it in half if your
requirement is smaller than an M&M.) By the way, many pharmacies carry
the 325 mg Ferrous Sulfate behind the counter for some reason. I know they
do this as my Walgreens, Kmart and Walmart. Good luck!
— Lynette B.
December 27, 2003
I had the same problem in the beginning and became very anemic, partly due
to female problems as well. I had difficulty tolerating the OTC iron pills
and not getting enough. Finally my Dr. prescribed an wonderful Iron pill
that is great. I think it's 300-400 mg. and it's a gel capsule that you
only need to take once daily. It's called FeoGen Forte. I think it's a
generic name for something else, however. Good luck.
— Michelle B.
December 28, 2003
I think you have your mcg's and mg's confused. I take 325MCG a day not
micrograms. They work just fine for me.
— maureen P.
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