Iron deficiency symptoms UK: tiredness, tests and treatment
Iron deficiency anaemia in the UK — symptoms, who is at risk, blood tests, iron tablets and when you need urgent GP review.
Iron deficiency is one of the commonest causes of tiredness GP searches in the UK — especially among women with heavy periods.
Key symptoms
- Overwhelming fatigue despite sleep
- Looking pale
- Short of breath climbing stairs
- Headaches or dizziness
- Brittle nails or hair loss
Getting tested
Ask your GP for FBC + ferritin, or use a private blood panel and share results with your GP.
Treatment
- Oral iron tablets (prescription strength absorbs better than some OTC forms)
- Take with vitamin C; avoid tea/coffee with doses
- Retest ferritin in 3 months
When to see GP urgently
- Black tarry stools
- Blood in stool or urine
- Iron deficiency in men or after menopause — needs gut investigation
Frequently asked questions
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?
Fatigue, pale skin, breathlessness on exertion, headaches and sometimes restless legs or craving ice. Symptoms develop gradually and overlap with many other conditions.
How is iron deficiency diagnosed in the UK?
A full blood count and ferritin blood test via GP or private blood test. Ferritin below roughly 15 micrograms/L often confirms deficiency in adults — thresholds vary.
Can I buy iron tablets online?
Low-dose iron is available over the counter. Prescription-strength iron after confirmed deficiency is usually via GP, who also investigates why iron is low.
Who is most at risk in the UK?
Menstruating women, pregnant women, people with coeliac disease, vegans without planning, and anyone with gut conditions causing blood loss.
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