Iron Oxide in HIV Meds?

[phenethylamine]

A while back I thought I might have anemia, and was considering buying some Iron Supplements. I did some research first, and learned that it can actually be really dangerous in those who aren't deficient.  It's mostly only used in diagnosed anemia (8-11mg men), or in women with heavy menstruation loll! However, since men don't normally lose blood, it can accumulate to toxic levels, and compete/suppress zinc.

I decided maybe it's best not to try it, but since learned I've already been taking it for over a year. All of the triple combination HIV pills list Iron Oxide (Rust) as an inactive ingredient. While they don't list the (mg) I believe it's what they use to color the tablets. Atripla, triumeq use red, black to make purple...Complera uses red to make pink..and Stribild uses yellow... not sure how they make it green.

Anyways, I know I sound really paranoid... and the mg content is likely to low to have an effect but thought I'd bring it up for discussion. A few months back, I had a conversation with a different member on here...I think discoslice...who was having the same breathing/sinus issues as me. He switched from .Complera to Truvada and Edurant...and the issue was solved... I tried comparing the pills... they all have Titanium Dioxide, Macrogol/Polyethylene glycol as a laxative. A few days ago, It hit me while researching minerals!.... Iron!! It's not listed in Truvada, or Edurant. Triumeq still has it..but the color is very light almost white...wheras complera is obviously pink...

-Iron dilates blood cells (the dizziness you get when first taking a pill)
-Iron can irritate lungs, sinuses...
and decrease absorption of drugs used to treat those symptoms.
-Iron can suppress zinc...
Zinc deficiency can change taste, and reduce smell... decrease immune function and libido and cause depression, fatigue.

I actually tried two different types of Zinc supplements, and the first thing I noticed was an improved sense of taste and smell.

So yeah, not really sure what I plan to achieve with this.
Do we all get tested for vitamins, minerals when our blood is drawn?
Has anyone else noticed signs of high iron/low zinc? (Didn't list them all)...
How bioavailable is Iron Oxide compared to other Iron Salts.
In the future, can we just color the pills with dye? Or leave them white?  Or use gel caps? Iron Oxide is the same metallic rust, found in like eyeshadow... and cosmetics...I really don't like the idea of eating that everyday...I actually would mind less if it was inside..but if it's its on the outside... it comes in contact with tongue, throat, esophagus...I might try an experiment to take 5mg zinc together with pills to cancel it out. 

[harleymc]

Iron oxide or rust, it's just about everywhere you look where there's iron and water and oxygen. That's because it's a stable end product of exothermic reactions.
It's a form of iron that's not easily absorbed.

So how did your anaemia/ iron deficiency/ iron toxicity, work out or was it all a thought bubble?