Iron Supplement Overdose

Iron is a relatively abundant and essential mineral within your body. Your body uses the majority of iron from your diet or from supplements to contribute to your red blood cells -- helping to bind, store and transport oxygen throughout your body. Iron also contributes to muscle functioning and supports your metabolism, contributing to cellular energy production. While iron supplements may help you achieve an adequate intake of iron each day, consuming high levels of iron may lead to a potentially life-threatening overdose.

Recommended Safe Iron Intake

If you're considering taking iron supplements, you should take the supplements at a dosage that allows you to meet, but not significantly exceed, your daily recommended iron intake. Men and post-menopausal women should consume approximately 8 mg of iron each day. Pre-menopausal and pregnant women face an increased iron requirement -- 18 and 27 mg per day, respectively, according to the Institute of Medicine. Before you begin taking iron supplements, visit a registered dietitian to determine an appropriate iron supplement dosage.

Initial Acute Iron Toxicity

If you consume a very high dose of iron -- 20 to 60 mg of iron per kg of body weight -- you may develop acute iron toxicity. After consuming the iron supplements, you may experience low blood pressure, dehydration, nausea and vomiting, flushing of the skin and lung edema, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. As the symptoms progress, such high doses of iron may cause a coma or even prove fatal in the hours or days following supplement overdose.

Longer-term Symptoms of Toxicity

If you suffer an acute iron overdose, you may cause long-term damage to your internal tissues. Your body cannot easily eliminate excess iron from your system, and an iron overdose can place a strain on several organs. Within 48 hours of an iron overdose, your kidneys, nervous system, lungs and liver may begin to fail, requiring dialysis or other medical treatments. In the weeks following an iron overdose, you may experience permanent damage to these organs as well as your stomach.

Treatment

If you accidentally take a high dose of iron supplements, seek medical attention. The onset of symptoms depends on the amount of iron consumed, body weight and your overall health. At the hospital, doctors will assess the levels of iron within your bloodstream to determine your health risk, and they will treat the overdose accordingly. For additional information about iron overdose, contact the U.S. National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.