Sick immediately after taking iron

It seems that no matter what I try (eating, not eating, morning, night), every time I take my iron pill, it's only minutes before I start to feel like I might throw up. It's terrible, and I'm all out of ideas. Suggestions?

What kind of iron are you taking?

Some types, like ferrous sulfate, frequently cause an upset stomach.  Other types, like carbonyl iron, seldom have that effect.

Almost all chewable vitamins made me nauseous.  Switching to another brand might help, but switching to a pill you swallow might help more.

I take Vitron C - and its best when I drink my protein shake with it...  Maybe the soy milk cuts the iron....

I take one I swallow. It's the Spring Valley one I just get at Walmart. I can't find what kind of iron it is, but it says it's 65mg which is equivalent to 325mg of Ferrous Sulfate. I guess I better find another one. 

Carbonyl Iron is gentler on your stomach and doesn't constipate as much as ferrous sulfate or fumerate or gluconate.  Any iron can cause stomach/pouch issues so the dosing instructions will often say take with food, although it is best absorbed on an empty stomach. 

I have to take 190 mg of elemental iron a day (65 mg x 3), and even though the iron is better absorbed on an empty stomach, I take mine (carbonyl iron - Feosol or Sundown) with a small amount of food.  Plus I take an extra stool softener to help offset the constipation factor.

Good luck! 

In the ingredients, it should list everything in the supplement, including the type of iron.

I recommend carbonyl iron.  The brand I use is Sundown Perfect Iron.  Feosol also makes a carbonyl iron.

Thank you! (And Christinalee!) I'm going to the Vitamin Shoppe tomorrow for calcium anyway, so I'll definitely look into this. I honestly have been only taking my iron every few days because it's been making me so ill. I know that's got to stop!