Iron supplements make me sleepy

[Shastacovich]

I'm a man who has thalassemia minor. I feel anemic quite often (It is manifest for example when I climb the stairs or when I stand up quickly). I've been taking iron supplements for quite a while in different forms such as chelated iron capsules, Blutsaft and Ferroglobin. I take no more than 50% daily value in a day.

One thing that all these have in common is that when I take then I get so sleepy and also a little bit dizzy. I think this may be a result of iron overload but it's not listed among the symptoms.  

Doctors keep telling me that my thalasemia does not result in fatigue but I on the contrary realize that whenever I go to the mountains, or stay in a crowded lecture hall with its doors closed, I get very fatigued.

[TheLightSeeker]

I don't understand why you take iron supplements, which are not necessary for your condition, nor recommended.
As a matter of fact, thalassemia can cause iron overload, so
iron supplementation should be avoided, unless you also have a confirmed diagnosis of iron deficiency!
On the other hand routine iron supplementation may
CAUSE iron deficiency over time !!!
Metabolic side effects of iron supplements have included decreased absorption of thyroxine (T4) which may lower somewhat thyroid function, thus explaining your symptoms.
Look into MSM and vitamin C megadosing (in powder form) as an alternative method of providing extra oxygen to the cells through a biochemical reaction  called redox
(reduction–oxidation reaction).
Do your own research for this, as it is very scientific  to elaborate on redox here..
Oxygen levels decline in higher altitudes, while available oxygen in crowded enclosed areas is limited for obvious
reasons.
Best wishes,
Niko

[Shastacovich]

How can iron supplementation  cause iron deficiency? I take 7mg of Iron every other night and I don't think that's too much. Interestingly the day after taking it I feel anemic but the next day I feel good. The reason I take iron is that if I don't eat iron rich foods and iron supplements I start to feel tired and anemic but such supplements and food make me feel better. Have been diagnosed with anemia multiple times too.

[Shastacovich]

I should add that I become MORE anemic after cardiovascular exercise.

[Paxiled]

If you're in fact anemic, your doctors will know.  Are you in fact anemic?  Because if you're not, taking too much iron can result in heart problems, so you don't want another problem.  Also, the vast majority of iron supplements are not well absorbed, so you might not be absorbing your iron assuming you actually need iron.  If your iron was high I assume your doctors would notice that as well, as I assume they're checking your iron levels regularly.  One of the best absorbed iron supplements is Floradix, which is all plant derived.  Eating green leafy vegetables, especially ones such as dandelion greens, watercress, parsley and the like are especially high in it.  You don't need much -- you just need to absorb what you consume, and you have a condition that can make that harder so you have to work harder.  But again, your doctors should be aware of this and from what you say you don't appear to have an iron problem resulting in fatigue at this point in time.  Have they checked your B12 levels, another form of anemia?  Do you eat energy providing green foods?  Do you sleep well?  Do you exercise?  And something you say stands out, that you feel fatigue in a crowded room with the doors closed or in the mountains, which can indicate anxiety rather than anemia.  Do you have an anxiety problem?

[Paxiled]

I should add, one way to strengthen hemoglobin is to eat foods high in chlorophyll, such as spirulina and wheat grass.  The structure of chlorophyll is almost identical to hemoglobin.