iron pills and weight gain - Anemia Message Board

Tintin2 · 12-12-2004, 02:59 PM

In the last few weeks, I gained about 7 to 8 pounds. That in itself is no big deal, I'm still far from overweight, but I do wonder at its cause. I didn't eat more than usual, didn't change my habits, the only thing that's different compared to a few weeks ago is that I'm now taking iron pills. I remember reading people with anemia tend to lose weight rather than gain weight. It seems I'm the opposite. Can iron pills cause weight gain? Does anyone here have any experience with this?

Marimac · 12-13-2004, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tintin2

In the last few weeks, I gained about 7 to 8 pounds. That in itself is no big deal, I'm still far from overweight, but I do wonder at its cause. I didn't eat more than usual, didn't change my habits, the only thing that's different compared to a few weeks ago is that I'm now taking iron pills. I remember reading people with anemia tend to lose weight rather than gain weight. It seems I'm the opposite. Can iron pills cause weight gain? Does anyone here have any experience with this?

It sounds like from your post that you have gained weight since taking the iron. That sounds like fluid gain rather than true fat gain. On the other hand it may just be that your blood volume is going up due to improved blood cell creation. Whatever, the reason, it is true that during anemia the weight most often goes down due to the lack of appetite in the anemic person, but there are occasions where the body weight goes up due to the body trying to hang on to body fluids for nutritional reasons.

cmmm47 · 12-20-2004, 08:34 AM

What type of iron are you taking and how much? Ferrous Fumarate, Ferrous Gluconate, Ferrous Sulfate etc. (Ferrous refers to iron that has been changed a little bit in its electrons rotating around and is combined with oxygen). One thing Im thinking is that it can be very constipating and I wonder if you are not filled with stool when you weighed? Im not kidding but I can gain 5 pounds when constipated. Also do you have any unusual swelling anywhere? Your feet , your face, your hands? Any changes in breathing recently? Do you wake up at night short of breath? Are you congested and coughing? Any problems with exercise? The extra weight may be nothing but I just thought I would ask.

Tintin2 · 12-20-2004, 12:23 PM

Thanks for your replies.

I'm taking Ferrous Sulfate, 525 mg. I'm certainly not constipated, quite the contrary. And I don't notice any difference in the mirror, no swollen feet or hands.
I do have problems with exercise. I usually run once a week. Because of my anemia I do run slower than the rest but I did manage to run 10 last month, felt quite proud about that. But since then I haven't had the energy to run that far again. I've tried, but after 1K I was too tired, no energy left. Same thing last week and I fear that tomorrow (always run on Tuesdays) I won't have the energy either.

cmmm47 · 12-20-2004, 05:48 PM

Well if you're getting too tired and not having enough energy left to do your usual running, I would suggest you go to your doctor or nurse and see about getting another Complete Blood Count. It sounds like you are getting more anemic despite your doctors iron therapy. Its very hard to know as there are many reasons for tiredness but if this happened before maybe you need to have your stool checked for hidden (occult) blood.