I have taken 2 a day for years. Usually the green pills.
Sam's club price was half of what I was paying at the drug store but the pills are red. Always had black stools but now they are normal color again. Tired all the time. These are obviously not working at all for me. Has anyone else ever noticed this with the red pills?
pattikr
Is there a difference between the red & green 325mg ferrous sulfate pills?
Question posted by pattikr on 21 Jan 2011
Last updated on 30 September 2018 by Cholemia
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4 Answers
Cholemia
30 Sep 2018
I usually take the red pills twice a day. The ones the dr prescribed. Just recently I bought the spring valley brand the green pills and I am now exhausted. Its horrible.I dont know if there is a difference but I sure feel like there is.
everjaded
9 Oct 2014
Where I am from, the green pills are a different form of iron - ferrous gluconate. Perhaps those pills are being absorbed better by your body than the red pills, which are ferrous sulfate.
sheila123455
28 Feb 2013
I had started taking the red pill in August of 2011 when first dignoised as anemic the prescription was to take 1 pill daily with a glass of orange juice . I did that for 6 months I still felt fatigued all the time.
mommytimes2
3 Feb 2011
If the label on the red iron pills says that they contain 325 mg as well, they should be the same thing as what you were taking previously. The color difference is usually just a difference between brands. The labels should state all the ingredients and the amount of iron in the supplements. If these match up, you can rest assured that the quality is the same. The FDA must closely regulate that the active ingredients in all brands of OTC products are the same as the name brands, which is why it is safe and effective to take "off brand" medications and they generally do cost much less.
There could be another reason for your tiredness. Have you added anything to your diet or made any changes that could interfere with absorption of the iron? If you still can't put your finger on anything different, I would suggest going in and having your iron levels tested, which can prove for sure if that is the reason you're more tired and have had a change in stool color. Speak to your doctor and they'll be able to help you get to the bottom of things. All in all, between various brands, these types of supplements are the same and shouldn't affect you negatively. I would just suggest getting it checked out to make sure there isn't another cause for the changes you've noticed. Best wishes!
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