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Active ingredients (generic names)
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FOLIC ACID (foe-lik as-id)
Also known as: folate, vitamin B9
FOLIC ACID + IRON (foe-lik as-id + i-on)
Other medicines for anaemia
Not included in this monograph — see individual monograph or AMH for more information:
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What it is used for
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- Anaemia (weak blood) in pregnancy in combination with iron
- Preventing birth defects — neural tube defects and spina bifida. Given in
- Preventing folate deficiency during dialysis
- To help prevent side effects in patients taking some medicines (eg methotrexate)
- Treating folate deficiency in pregnancy
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How it works
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- Folic acid is needed by the body to make protein and build red blood cells, especially
important for healthy development of foetus
- Higher doses are needed for pregnant women who have diabetes, epilepsy, BMI more than
30, have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect
- Replaces folate when levels are too low
- Replaces folate lost when people take some medicines (eg methotrexate), so side effects
less likely
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Side effects
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Warnings
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- Folic acid should not be given on the same day as methotrexate
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Tell the patient
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- For women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant — if possible take folic
acid for at least 1 month before getting pregnant, and then for first 3 months of
pregnancy
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Check
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