Who should not take iron pills?

Iron tablets are prescribed to fight anemia. This pill has different types and is sometimes produced in combination with other nutrients. Iron deficiency anemia can be treated with iron supplements. Depending on the degree of anemia, the dose of iron that should be used to improve this condition varies. Do you know how not to use iron pills? Join us to explain the contraindications to taking iron pills.

Who should take iron pills?

Low levels of iron in the body, if left untreated, can lead to a more serious condition called “iron deficiency anemia.” In this case, the blood does not produce enough red blood cells and as a result, not enough oxygen reaches the tissues and organs of the body. Iron tablets are most suitable for people who are experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency. These symptoms include the following:

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty concentrating
• Pale skin
• Constantly getting sick
• Tongue swelling
• hair loss
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Open sores in the corner of the mouth
• Spoon nails

Some people are more at risk for anemia than others. These include: pregnant women, infants and young children, women who experience heavy periods, people who donate a lot of blood, people with gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease, people with heart failure. People who use drugs to reduce stomach acid, athletes who do strenuous exercise, people with blood disorders, and people who are vegetarians and follow a vegan diet.

Contraindications to iron tablets

Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. Most of the iron in the body is found in the hemoglobin of red blood cells and in the myoglobin of muscle cells. Iron supplementation is prescribed to prevent and treat anemia caused by low levels of iron in the body. Although this product does not require a doctor’s prescription to buy, but it is better not to use it arbitrarily. In some cases, iron supplements should be used with caution:

If you are taking certain medications

Some drugs interact with iron tablets. In this case, if used simultaneously with iron supplements, they will be less effective in the body. Therefore, you must leave a gap of 2-3 hours between taking these drugs, which we will mention below, and iron tablets:

• Quinolone antibiotics
• Tetracycline antibiotics
• Bisphosphonates
• لوودوپا
• Levothyroxine
• Methyl dopa
• Mycophenolate mofetil
• پنی‌سیلامین

If you have used iron tablets for a long time

One of the contraindications to taking iron pills is when you have recently been treated for anemia or have recently taken iron pills to prevent anemia. In this case, without the supervision of a doctor, the body’s iron stores may become too normal and poisoning may occur. Symptoms of iron poisoning include: dizziness, low blood pressure, headache, shortness of breath, jaundice due to liver damage and seizures.

People taking anticoagulants

If you are one of those people who take medications such as warfarin, be sure to consult your doctor before taking iron tablets. Iron may reduce the effect of warfarin in the body and reduce its effect. Therefore, this drug should be used at a suitable time interval.

Those who have thalassemia

People with thalassemia may be advised to avoid taking iron supplements because they are at risk for excess iron in the body. In some cases, iron tablets are prescribed for people with thalassemia minor. However, any use of iron supplements by people with thalassemia should be under the supervision of a physician.

People who have trouble defecating iron

Some disorders, such as inherited hematochromatosis, cause the body’s iron levels to not be properly regulated. People who have problems with iron excretion are in the category of contraindicated iron tablets. This condition causes the body to excrete excess iron poorly and this mineral is stored in organs such as the liver, heart and pancreas and damages them. People with iron deficiency disorders absorb more iron than their body needs and this will be a problem for them in the long run.

Should men take iron pills?

We reviewed the contraindications for taking iron tablets. In the case of men, they need iron supplementation only if they have a history of anemia and the number of red blood cells in their blood is lower than normal. Men who suffer from chronic bleeding or who do not get enough iron in their diet also need to take iron pills. Otherwise, there is no recommendation for men to take iron supplements. In general, women are more at risk for anemia than men because they lose a lot of blood during menstruation, and during periods such as pregnancy, their body needs iron more than normal.

Side effects of taking iron tablets

Iron supplements are usually completely safe and secure if used in the right amounts. However, symptoms such as stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea are perfectly normal. If you suffer from these side effects, it is better to take iron tablets with food. Of course, the best time to take iron tablets is on an empty stomach, and food can reduce the body’s absorption of iron. Iron supplements, if in the form of syrups and drops, can also cause tooth blackening and staining.

Concluding remarks

In this article, we have explained the contraindications for taking iron pills. Iron supplements are available in all pharmacies without a prescription. But it is better to consult a doctor before taking this supplement so that arbitrary consumption does not cause excessive accumulation of iron in the body. The doctor can also check for drug interactions to ensure that the body absorbs iron and other drugs well.