Ferrous sulfate and Constipation: What Users Say

• tra...
• October 29, 2008

Ferrous sulfate for Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was anemic for years, and thought it was just the way I was. I had no idea that the soda I was drinking was stopping my body from absorbing iron (and calcium). One night, my heart rate didn't slow down. I woke my husband, and we went to the hospital. I found that my anemia was so bad that my red blood cells couldn't get enough oxygen to my body, and my heart was racing trying to get more oxygen delivered. The doctors said my heart would have just given up had I not come in. I found 'normal' iron pills gave me horrible, painful gas. Slow Fe was the only iron that didn't. It's made differently than iron pills and your body is able to break it down without the difficult side effects, but it can cause constipation. I eat 3 prunes a day."

• fee...
• August 1, 2011

Ferrous sulfate for Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have really bad acid reflux and had suffered from anemia most of my adult life due to heavy periods. Regular iron supplements would irritate the lining of my stomach and cause lots of pain but this product is great. I have been taking Slow Fe for two weeks and I feel better already. I have more energy, less shortness of breath, less pain in my body and I don't crave for ice anymore. It can only get better. My iron level was 9.0 before starting Slow Fe. I will go to my doctor sometime in August. The only side effect is mild constipation."

• Onl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2017

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have been taking this medication for about 3 weeks, and I am using a generic over-the-counter brand. When I started the medication, I was told to be prepared for some slight constipation. What I wasn't told was that this medication would cause me terrible diarrhea. For the last week and a half, I have been having watery diarrhea 5-7 times a day, and this side effect is more negative and has impaired my life more than the anemia did. I got off the medication 3 days ago, but the diarrhea still hasn't stopped and doesn't show any signs of stopping soon either. I wanted to write this review for anyone who was only told to expect constipation like I was, as it isn't always the case!!"

• Anonymous
• November 23, 2011

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have only been taking ferrous sulfate for 3 weeks but have found the results beneficial. My anemia was affecting my school work and social life as I had no energy to walk and it was really challenging me. Now, I can do normal things and don't get as tired - I believe they are working very well. But, I seem to have got the short straw with the side effects. I now suffer from great constipation. I am also nauseous most days and my appetite has been lost. So, even though I have more energy etc., I am still not myself as I am always feeling sick or having bowel troubles."

• Lul...
• August 7, 2015

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "After being terrified of blood tests for years, I finally had one after my fainting got worse and I thought it'd be smart to check it out. I always knew it'd be lack of iron because I'm not a fan of the foods that contain iron. I've been taking the ferrous sulfate for nearly 2 months now and although I feel so much more energetic and no longer get tired at the top of the stairs or faint, I often get awful stomach cramps of which I expect is due to the constipation. But I can only describe them as being a whole lot worse than period pains and also a huge lack in appetite. I'm already underweight and I worry I'll get further complications due to not eating other types of food, but all in all the pills have made me feel so much more energized."

• Iky...
• October 25, 2019

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Having suffered with low iron since a teenager, feeling lethargic had become the norm. My eyes looked tired. My body felt tired. My short-term memory was poor at best. Concentration lacked massively. At 40 years, I decided to discuss this with my GP. I mentioned how I was sleeping maybe 10+ hours each night. I work part-time, meditate when I can, and generally try to relax. So yes, I have responsibilities but nothing out of my comfort zone. Why am I so exhausted? The findings from blood work - borderline anemic. Tabs prescription - 5 weeks on and I’m being complimented at work for upping my game. Concentration is good, memory has improved, I no longer feel as tired, and my eyes feel alert. I’m smiling as I once thought the lethargy was me... it’s not! I will mention, yes I’ve been constipated, also had a few headaches, but nothing that a laxative and maybe the odd headache tablet plus a good diet can’t fix."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2017

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was prescribed to take 300 mg a day, along with stool softeners because this product is known to cause constipation. Thankfully I waited to take the stool softeners because I have been taking this medication for 6 days and have been glued to the toilet for 2 of them. I haven't noticed any positive effects from this medication. A full list of my side effects so far has been: feeling like I'm going to throw up, my stomach gurgling a lot, painful gas, and very strong diarrhea (very watery about 4 times in the morning then 5/6 during the daytime)."

• Tas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was prescribed this medication for iron deficiency anemia. I was scared to take it for so long because of the constipation everyone complains about. I finally took it and haven’t dealt with any constipation at all! I take it with a glass of orange juice to help with the absorption of iron and drink plenty of water every day. Also, I eat greens at least once a day. I've only been taking it for 3 days now, and I need to take it for a month, but so far I don’t have any negative symptoms at all."

• Mes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2018

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "If I can say it this way, it's nice to hear others' comments and realize I am not crazy. I don't understand why doctors and pharmacists only mention possible constipation and never talk about diarrhea. I felt like I was from another world. I've been prescribed Ferrous Sulfate a few years back, and from what I remember, it went quite well. In the past years, again, my iron level was low, and I started again but had constipation and stomach pain. I then tried Eurofer, and a week or so for a few days, I got diarrhea, getting worse and bad abdominal pain. I have switched to Feramax 150, another type of iron supplement, that so far is really great. Although not covered by insurance, I would rather pay than feel bad. Good luck, everyone."

• Anonymous
• November 28, 2010

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "This form of iron gives me massive, cluster-like headaches. I switched to an iron gluconate time-release dose and have no headaches, but do have some minor stomach upset and constipation. Those I can live with!"

• Fru...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 1, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I have been anemic for most of my life. I’ve had all the tests looking for the reason. I have tried multiple times to take every kind of iron there is, and they all have the same side effect, impacting constipation. I was in a lot of pain from the constipation. I could not go through that on a regular basis. Laxatives, stool softeners just didn’t work. My iron was literally gone. I asked if the iron could be done intravenously, and my doctor said yes. So I got my iron in my body by infusion. My iron is right on target after 3 15-minute infusions. A lot more expensive, but so worth it."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I've been taking this for three months now. I no longer feel weak in my chest, and I feel I'm getting enough oxygen. Which is great, but my digestive system is so off, and I have regular nausea, stomach ache, and mild constipation. It's making me miserable, as there's nothing worse than nausea."

• Lso...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 22, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "My 82 yr old father was prescribed ferrous sulfate and had horrible side effects. Black, tarry stool, constipation, severe belly pain, green diarrhea, and low-grade temperature. Unfortunately, it took a while to figure out it was the medication. He suffered for weeks before we finally stopped it, and still a week before the side effects went away."

• RRR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2022

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I've been taking ferrous sulfate for 2 weeks now, and I do notice I have more energy. I still get pretty tired early in the night, but when I wake up, I am no longer exhausted. I suffer from GI issues that can easily be triggered if the wrong thing goes into my stomach. I was very skeptical about iron pills, but my doctor told me to take the pills with breakfast. I feel this has helped me not suffer terrible GI issues. If I eat dinner at 6/7 pm and breakfast at 9 am with no lunch or snacks in between, I have noticed that I get really nauseous about an hour after dinner. Although, if I eat more frequently throughout the day, I am completely fine. There have been a couple of days where I didn't pass a bowel movement, but I did not feel like I had to. Typically, it's normal for me to go once a day. I feel I will sometimes experience very mild constipation on this pill. I take a probiotic every single day with the pill to make sure I am as regular as possible."

• Ari...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2021

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Dr. prescribed iron, and I was feeling better at two weeks. Take 3 months, then follow up at 3 months. Only told to watch for constipation. 2 months later, suddenly began having diarrhea with a sudden urge to go… now. This went on for almost a month, thinking it had something to do with the new hypothyroid med. but honestly, it all began about 4 days before I began this med. I was convinced it was to do with something thyroid-related, as the only other thing I was taking was iron, and everybody knows iron makes iron stool, and the doctor told me only of constipation too… this was not the case. I was waiting for a follow-up with the endocrinologist (thyroid doc) to see what she thought, which was scheduled before my regular doc follow-up for iron. She was as confused as me. Between taking iron that supposedly only will back you up and hypothyroid, which also slows that down."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2017

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Stomach problems, cramps, constipation, and diarrhea sometimes."