Some signs that iron pills are working for iron deficiency anemia include increased energy, less weakness, and less shortness of breath or dizziness. However, since iron deficiency anemia does not always cause symptoms, people may not display any clear signs that iron pills are or are not working.
Most people feel better after taking ferrous fumarate for 1 week, but it may take up to 4 weeks to work fully.
In healthy people, taking high doses of iron supplements (especially on an empty stomach) can cause an upset stomach, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Large amounts of iron might also cause more serious effects, including inflammation of the stomach lining and ulcers.
You may tire easily. You also may feel grumpy, have headaches, and have trouble concentrating. Most people begin to feel normal after a few weeks of taking iron pills. But you need to take the pills for several months to build up the iron supply in your body.
It may take one to four weeks (after you start your iron supplement) before you start to feel better. Continue to watch your symptoms and take note of side effects. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your healthcare provider.
Hemoglobin blood levels generally go up after 2 to 4 weeks. Symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and headache should start to improve during this timeframe. However, it can take up to 2 months for symptoms to go fully away and for your hemoglobin levels to return to normal.
Extreme fatigue and exhaustion “Fatigue is one of the most common signs of iron deficiency because it means your body is having trouble carrying the oxygen to your cells so it's affecting your energy levels,” Thayer says. People lacking enough iron in their blood often feel sluggish, weak, and unable to focus.
Weight gain related to iron therapy is a common problem in female patients with iron deficiency anemia. Patients under iron therapy should be counseled in terms of weight gain complication and benefits of diet and followed up serum ferritin and Hgb levels to prevent prolonged iron therapy.
Iron supplements can cause side effects like dizziness, fainting, and hives. Too many iron supplements can cause long-term side effects like liver damage and heart disease. If you want to take iron supplements, talk to your doctor about finding the proper dosage for you.
The iron supplement should be taken with a full cup of water to make sure it does not get stuck in the esophagus. 4. To reduce the risk of reflux, the person should not lie down for 30 to 60 minutes after taking the iron supplement.
Iron pills can change the color of your stool to a greenish or grayish black. This is normal, but because internal bleeding can also cause dark stool, be sure to mention any color changes to your doctor.
Iron is essential for the transport of oxygen in the body. Much of the body's iron is found in the hemoglobin of the red blood cells where it assists oxygen delivery to all tissues. Iron is also found in the myoglobin component of muscle.
As tiredness or a lack of energy (fatigue) is commonly associated with a diet low in iron, it is likely to be the first change in your body that you notice when you take an iron supplement (2).
Do not take iron supplements and antacids or calcium supplements at the same time. It is best to space doses of these 2 products 1 to 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each medicine or dietary supplement.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
A large 2020 study in BMC Psychiatry found that people with iron deficiency anemia had a significantly higher incidence and risk of anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disorder, and psychotic disorders.
As we've mentioned, low iron can impact your thyroid hormone and metabolism, so when you start absorbing more iron, these processes improve and your body's ability to burn calories will resume.
Eye symptoms of low iron can include a pale coloring of the inside of the lower eyelids. In moderate or severe cases of iron deficiency anemia, the inside layer of the lower eyelid is very pale pink or yellow instead of red. Rather than low iron, one common cause of blurry vision is dry eye.
Beyond fatigue, weakness and sleep disturbances, iron-deficiency anemia has been linked to restless legs and flattening of the fingernails. The condition also has been associated with cravings for chewing ice and, though rare, cravings to eat dirt.
Iron gives you energy because it allows your tissues, muscles and cells to receive and absorb oxygen.
Iron supplements, also called iron pills or oral iron, help increase the iron in your body. This is the most common treatment for iron-deficiency anemia. It often takes three to six months to restore your iron levels.