Geritol Liquid Review – 14 Reasons Why

Geritol Liquid Energy Support is a multivitamin and iron supplement designed to give an energy boost and treat or prevent iron deficiency due to certain illnesses, poor diet, or during pregnancy.[1]

However, the brand has faced some issues in the past, including lawsuits and years of investigations by the FTC for not fully disclosing all potential Geritol side effects.

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1) What is Geritol Liquid?

Geritol was first introduced in August 1950 as an alcohol-based, B vitamin and iron liquid supplement. The tonic was primarily marketed as such by Pharmaceuticals, Inc. into the 1970s.

The first Geritol liquid formulation was advertised as “twice the iron in a pound of calf’s liver,” and daily doses contained about 50 to 100 milligrams of iron as ferric ammonium citrate. The original Geritol liquid formula had about 12% alcohol and a blend of several B vitamins.

Over the past decades, the original formula went through several variations, a few label and package updates, and some changes to the initial claims.

2) The Company Behind Geritol Liquid

A well-known nutritional supplement company for more than 60 years, the Geritol brand went through a series of mergers and acquisitions. In 1982, the Geritol brand name was acquired by the multinational pharmaceutical company Beecham (today GlaxoSmithKline).

Later, in 2011, GlaxoSmithKline sold the Geritol brand to Meda Pharmaceutical. In 2016, Meda Pharmaceutical and Geritol brand were acquired by Mylan.[2]

Mylan is a global specialty and generic pharmaceuticals company located in the Netherlands, with executive offices in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. and Hatfield, Hertfordshire, U.K.

Mylan develops and produces medicines for various medical disciplines, including anaphylaxis, oncology, cardiovascular, antiretrovirals, respiratory, immunology, dermatology, anesthesia and pain management, gastroenterology, endocrinology, infectious disease, diabetology, and women’s healthcare.

How to contact Meda Pharmaceutical

• Website: geritol.com
• Phone: 1-855-874-0970 Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST

3) Ingredients of Geritol Liquid

Geritol Liquid Energy Support contains the following ingredients:

• Thiamine (Vitamin B1) 2.5 mg
• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 2.5 mg
• Niacin 50 mg
• Vitamin B6 0.5 mg
• Pantothenic Acid 2 mg
• Iron 18 mg
• Methionine 25 mg
• Choline Bitartrate 50 mg

Other ingredients include invert sugar, purified water, alcohol 12%, brewers yeast, ferric ammonium citrate, caramel color, citric acid, flavors, benzoic acid, sodium hydroxide, and pyridoxine HCI.

4) Does Geritol Liquid Work and it is Safe?

When it comes to maintaining healthy energy levels, both iron and B-vitamins are nutrients to consider. Iron and B vitamins are essential building blocks of the body and help keep you in good health.

Let’s start by taking a quick look at the B-complex vitamins available in Geritol Liquid Energy Support.

B-complex vitamins are a family of water-soluble vitamins that include:

• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
• Vitamin B9 (Folate)
• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Each of the B vitamins has a somewhat different function, but they are principally tasked with turning the foods you eat into energy.[3][4][5]

Most people will get all the B vitamins they need through a reasonably balanced diet. B vitamin deficiencies in the United States are relatively uncommon unless you are malnourished or suffering from disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pernicious anemia, or autoimmune diseases like Grave’s disease or lupus.[6][7][8]

If a deficiency is identified, a relatively cheap B-complex dietary supplement will probably set your right.

Another ingredient in Geritol Liquid Energy Support is iron, and it’s a lot of it.

Besides its importance in many essential processes in the body, iron is also vital to hemoglobin’s proper function, a protein needed to transport oxygen in the blood.[9][10]

A shortage of iron in the blood can lead to a range of severe health problems, including iron deficiency anemia.[11] Around 10 million people in the United States have low iron levels, and roughly 5 million of these have been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia.[12]

Since the body can’t make iron, we must get it from supplements or foods. Adequate amounts of this mineral can be obtained from a wide range of foods, but preferably from meat, as the iron from vegetable sources is not as well absorbed as iron from animal sources.[13][14]

The best animal sources are turkey, lamb, lean beef, oysters, and clams. The best plant sources include peas, seeds, spinach, nuts, and beans.

Despite its many benefits, iron comes with a warning. The iron atom is highly reactive and can cause a lot of damage unless it’s carefully regulated.[15]

Iron’s chemically reactive nature can destroy other ingredients mixed in with it, which is why many supplement companies have moved on from mineral iron in their formulations.[16] Instead, they use Ferrochel, which is a high-purity ingredient of iron atoms bonded to molecules of the amino acid Glycine.[17]

Unlike iron sulfate and many other iron compounds, this iron form is better absorbed, it doesn’t diminish the properties of other ingredients, and it’s gentle on the stomach.[18]

5) Geritol Liquid Claims

Geritol Liquid Energy Support claims and benefits include:

• Increased energy from a combination of high potency B-Vitamins (Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Pantothenic Acid) and iron;
• Liquid formula that’s easier to take compared to capsules or tablets;
• Contains 18 mg of elemental iron;
• Trusted brand of dietary supplements for 60 years;
• Contains no artificial sweeteners.

6) Potential Side Effects from Geritol Liquid Ingredients

More frequent Geritol Liquid Energy Support adverse effects include upset stomach, diarrhea, or constipation. These effects are usually temporary and may disappear as your body acclimates to the supplement.

Severe allergic reactions to Geritol are less likely. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following symptoms of a severe allergic reaction: trouble breathing, itching, rash, severe dizziness, and swelling (especially of the tongue, face, or throat).

7) Geritol Liquid Warnings and Precautions

Some products that may interact with Geritol Liquid Energy Support include Methyldopa, Chloramphenicol, other multivitamins or dietary nutritional supplements (especially those with high amounts of iron).

Geritol may also decrease the absorption of other medications[19] such as:

• Bisphosphonates (Alendronate)
• Levodopa
• Penicillamine
• Quinolone antibiotics (Levofloxacin or Ciprofloxacin)
• Thyroid medications (Levothyroxine)
• Tetracycline antibiotics (Minocycline or Doxycycline)

8) Any Meda Ab Lawsuits?

In 1959, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated an extended investigation on Geritol.

Geritol was the subject of years of investigation starting in 1959 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In 1965, the FTC requested the company to reveal that Geritol could alleviate symptoms of tiredness only in people with an iron deficiency anemia and that the vast majority of individuals who experience fatigue do not necessarily have such a deficiency.

Geritol’s claims were discredited in court findings as “conduct amounted to gross negligence and bordered on recklessness,” ruled as false and misleading allegations and penalized with fines.[20][21]

Despite subsequent trials and appeals from 1965 to 1973 concluded that some of the FTC demands overstepped its authority, supplemental iron supplements, including Geritol, have been contraindicated due to rising concerns over hemochromatosis,[22] and serious issues advanced in studies for postmenopausal women, men, and nonanemic patients with heart disease, liver disease, cancer, or type 2 diabetes.[23][24]

9) Who Sells Geritol Liquid?

Geritol Liquid Energy Support is available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S., including Amazon, eBay, GNC, Walgreens, Walmart, LuckyVitamins, and Meijer.

10) How Much Does Geritol Liquid Cost?

Geritol Liquid Energy Support 12 fl oz costs $8.99. The product is also available in packs of 3 at $26.97.

11) How to Use Geritol Liquid

Geritol Liquid Energy Support is best taken on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after meals. Take with a glass of water unless your doctor directs you otherwise.

12) Of the Same Product Line

Geritol Liquid Energy Support is available as both an over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicine. OTC products have lower amounts of iron than prescription forms.

13) What Users Are Saying

14) The Bottom Line – “Does it Work?”

We can’t recommend Geritol Liquid Energy Support given the controversies around this dietary supplement. Despite the many positive reviews and testimonials online, we believe there are better alternatives out there, especially for those looking for a relatively basic B vitamins complex.

Regarding users who may be interested in getting Geritol to supplement their daily iron intake, we strongly recommend consulting with your doctor pharmacist before taking Geritol Liquid Energy Support or any other dietary supplement with high iron concentrations.

Furthermore, we recommend supplements that contain Ferrochel, a high-purity ingredient of iron atoms bonded to molecules of the amino acid Glycine.

Ferrochel is safer for use by teenagers, pregnant and nursing women, and adults. Unlike most iron-based supplements, it will not result in gastric upset or constipation, and it has a very high absorption rate.

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