Ferrous sulfate and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Kat...
• November 15, 2013

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Technically, this helped my anemia - got me from ferritin levels of about 5 to 15 in three months. Apparently, it should have been much more though, so not sure what I did wrong. Anyway, it did help most of my bad anemia symptoms - heart palpitations, restless leg, tiredness when just walking to the shops. Downside is that it tends to mess up my digestion - unlike other people here who said it constipates them, it gives me diarrhea, especially when I drink it with juice."

• 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!!"

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Dr thinks because my red platelets, that were 11, were the cause of too much blood taken through phlebotomy. I’ve been taking Feosol 325 mg once a day with dinner. 10 days later, I’m sick with flu-like symptoms including painful diarrhea. I’m to finish this iron course in 3 weeks with recheck labs in a month. If iron fails to correct, it means I’ve graduated to myofibrosis (sp?). Keep me in your prayers, please, and I’ll keep you in mine."

• 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."

• Kay...
• September 17, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was told at my yearly doctor appointment I was anemic. Put on this drug for 6 weeks and at recheck she said I needed to take another prescription. At first, I did okay with the black stools and just a bit of runny stools. It increased and I was running to the bathroom 6 to 10 times every morning. Everything I ate, the brat diet, went right through me. I called the doctor and said I needed to stop the drug. It’s been 2 and a half weeks and I’m still having diarrhea. Tried Pepto-Bismol. Now trying Imodium. This is horrible. I wish it would stop. And by the way, I was not having any symptoms to make me think I was low in iron. Want to let people be careful."

• Kay...
• September 17, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I was told at my yearly doctor appointment I was anemic. Put on this drug for 6 weeks and at recheck she said I needed to take another prescription. At first, I did okay with the black stools and just a bit of runny stools. It increased and I was running to the bathroom 6 to 10 times every morning. Everything I ate, the brat diet, went right through me. I called the doctor and said I needed to stop the drug. It’s been 2 and a half weeks and I’m still having diarrhea. Tried Pepto-Bismol. Now trying Imodium. This is horrible. I wish it would stop. And by the way, I was not having any symptoms to make me think I was low in iron. Want to let people be careful."

• Kee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2020

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "Okay, so today when I woke up, I had diarrhea, and it made me feel very weak. I lost energy because of taking ferrous sulfate, I think. I pooped dark and watery, and it is really the worst thing ever. I just want to ask, should I still continue the ferrous sulfate? By the way, it'll be four weeks in two days, and I felt better but still pale. But now I have diarrhea. What do I do?"

• 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."

• mou...
• October 3, 2018

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I took one tablet and had diarrhea."

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

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