Question 1

i have been taking iron supplement for 5 months and my stools are no longer black, is this a problem?

Accepted Answer

No: do not take iron indefinitely. Check your ferritin again. Iron can accumulate in body and foundational causes damage. You have taken long enough that you need reevaluation

Question 2

i take iron supplement and my stool was wet and black now it has suddenly turned brown (normal color). does this cause concern?

Accepted Answer

: Are you taking the same iron supplement, dose and formulary? Even the pill has been the same, there is nothing to concern about the now "normal" stool color because stool color varies a lot with food intake.

Question 3

i started taking iron supplement my stool turned black.now after 5 months it is not black.does that mean i am not absorbing iron anymore?

Accepted Answer

No: Iron supplements turn the stool black. This is more common with coated or long-acting iron supplements because more of the iron gets to the large intestine. To confirm that you are not iron deficient have your doctor check your blood count or measure the  iron and ferritin level in your blood

Question 4

how do you know the difference between black stool from iron supplement or bleeding? normal brown stool before iron pills were started. should i worry

Accepted Answer

Black stool causes: It is likely that your black stools are from Iron supplement because you had Normal brown stools before iron pills were started.

Upper GI bleeding can have dark blood in stools.

If you have history of Ulcer, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea, please see Gastroenterologist for Diagnosis and Treatment. Discuss need for iron supplement.

Question 5

what causes light stool mixed with dark stool? i took an iron supplement yesterday. i was also recently in a car wreck but no internal bleeding was seen on ct scan?

Accepted Answer

: Many iron containing supplements will turn the stools black. But keep it in mind that internal bleeding into the stomach can also cause tarry black stools although one can still see a reddish tinge of blood in the latter case. Moreover the GI bleeding will likely clear  in a few days where as iron tablets will continue to color your stools black as long as you take them.

Question 6

ive been taking a 65mg iron supplement daily for the past 8 years without any noticeable adverse effects. i recently learned about iron overdose and excess iron storage in the organs. should i be concerned even though i feel no adverse effects?

Accepted Answer

: You are partly right. Iron supplements are not recommended for the males because we can easily get enough iron in the normal diet . Women, because of their monthly periods lose blood, so they more often need iron supplements particularly during pregnancy.
I would advise that you stop taking iron as it is indeed stored in the body and excess storage can cause organ damage(after many years of use).

Question 7

which form of iron supplement is best absorbed in the body with minimal side effects?

Accepted Answer

Not an easy question: Though some salts of iron are better absorbed than others, they may not provide the same amount of elemental iron. You may have to sacrifice one for the other. In addition, some salts are better tolerated (less GI side effects). Check with your pharmacist regarding which forms they carry and how will they affect you.

Question 8

a primary care doctor recommended that i take an iron pill. 65mg. i took a popular iron supplement (ferrous sulfate) it gives me harsh side effects. do you believe the 18mg of calcium in the pill is part of the problem?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Calcium in the pill is unlikely to cause the symptoms. Iron can irritate the stomach. If you are unable to tolerate oral iron, your doctor can give you the whole dose in one IV infusion.

Question 9

do men over 50 need an iron supplement?

Accepted Answer

No: The two main reasons for iron supplementation is blood loss ie from menstrual cycles ( females ) or GI loss , in which case upper and lower endoscopy is needed.  If iron not utilized a bone marrow biopsy is indicated.

Question 10

can i take xareltro and a iron supplement together?

Accepted Answer

: Yes, you can but if you have to take xarelto with foods along with iron pill, the iron absorption may be less.

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Doctor answers about:

Iron supplement effects on stool color

A member asked:

I have been taking iron supplement for 5 months and my stools are no longer black, is this a problem?

A member asked:

I take iron supplement and my stool was wet and black now it has suddenly turned brown (normal color). does this cause concern?

A member asked:

I started taking iron supplement my stool turned black.now after 5 months it is not black.does that mean i am not absorbing iron anymore?

A member asked:

How do you know the difference between black stool from iron supplement or bleeding? normal brown stool before iron pills were started. should i worry

A member asked:

What causes light stool mixed with dark stool? i took an iron supplement yesterday. i was also recently in a car wreck but no internal bleeding was seen on ct scan?

A member asked:

Ive been taking a 65mg iron supplement daily for the past 8 years without any noticeable adverse effects. i recently learned about iron overdose and excess iron storage in the organs. should i be concerned even though i feel no adverse effects?

A member asked:

Which form of iron supplement is best absorbed in the body with minimal side effects?

A member asked:

A primary care doctor recommended that i take an iron pill. 65mg. i took a popular iron supplement (ferrous sulfate) it gives me harsh side effects. do you believe the 18mg of calcium in the pill is part of the problem?

A member asked:

Do men over 50 need an iron supplement?

A member asked:

Can i take xareltro and a iron supplement together?

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