Iron tablets and reflux

Digestive health
1

Hi long story short all started 4 weeks ago I was taken to hospital suspected panic attack turned out I am very anemic and was put on iron tablets 3 a day. I was at a & e another 2 tines with chest and left arm pain had ecgs blood tests all negative. Over past few day I have been so nauseous had a sore throat burping all day also have on and off pain above my left breast and left shoulder. I know iron tablets can play havoc with your stomach etc does this sound like reflux or something x

2

It does sound a bit like reflux especially the burping and sore throat can be from acid coming up. Have you talked to your gp about this? Probably best to get it checked out. I'm on iron tablets and they don't seem to effect me at all I guess it's possible? But I haven't heard of this usually happening with iron tablets. Could be reflux get it checked and stay away from fatty food, chocolate, tomatoes and citrus fruits and alcohol until you get checked out. Let me know how you go.

3

As Charmayne says, it does sound like reflux but I doubt it's due to iron tablets. If they are going to cause digestion problems, it's likely to be lower GI related (eg constipation/diarrhoea) rather than upper GI.

4

I mentioned this to my gp but didn't really say much just that could be the tablets and that my throat was a bit red.

5

Hi I didn't suffer from reflux or anything like that until I started in the iron tablets that's why I wondered if could be those that were causing it. Do you get pain or tightness in chest

6

The Mayo clinic offers this advice if taking iron supplements:

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Backache , groin, side, or muscle pain

chest pain

chills

dizziness

fainting

fast heartbeat

fever with increased sweating

flushing

headache

metallic taste

nausea or vomiting

numbness, pain, or tingling of hands or feet

pain or redness at injection site

redness of skin

skin rash or hives

swelling of mouth or throat

troubled breathing

So it does appear, your symptoms could be a reaction to your iron tablet and you should discuss it with your doctor.

7

Hi Barretts, before I was diagnosed with GERD , Barretts and chronic gastritis the only distressing symptom I had was inability to bring up gas..experinced incredible chest pains and upper back pains..after I started the PPIs i started to burp and up the gas...and all the chest pain/ back pain diappeared..almost instantly ...after about 4/5 months and a 2nd endoscpy my gastroentrlogist said I could stop taking the PPIs, and as I continue belching (therefore no intense chest/back pains) I am not too worried about GERD etc... Am I wrong ??

​I do reflux sometimes when I eat spicey food in a take- away (home cooked does not effect me probably becoz my spicey cooked food does not involve a lot of fat/oil.)..and sometimes when I have fatty food after a meal (such as ice cream or pastry with a creme filling)

​The fact that I now continue to burp hours after a meal should be a sign to resume my PPI..(which originally brought me pain relief by makimg me burp out all the trapped gas)