Folic Acid
Description
Folic acid, which is the primary constituent of Folic Acid, is a naturally occurring form of vitamin B necessary for maintaining some very important functions in the body. It is used as a medicine to treat certain forms of anemia caused due to deficiency of folic acid.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Folic Acid
- Fever
- Weakness and general discomfort
- Itching or rash
- Difficulty in breathing
- Stomach discomfort and pain
Uses of Folic Acid
What is it prescribed for?
- Megaloblastic Anemia
- Folic acid deficiency
- Supplementation during pregnancy
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe effect of this medicine is cumulative and changes can be observed after 2-3 weeks of administration. However, the peak concentration in the body is attained after 1 hour of oral administration.
- Duration of effectThe time duration for which this medicine remains effective in the body is clinically not established.
- Safe with alcohol?Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while taking this medicine. Contact your doctor if there is no marked improvement in symptoms after use.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported.
- Usage in pregnancy?This medicine is acceptable for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?This medicine is acceptable for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use if you have a known history of allergy to folic acid or any other components present with it.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is acceptable for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is acceptable for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before using this medicine.
General warnings
Natural sources
Folic acid is present in many edible natural substances like broccoli, liver, beans etc. It is recommended to have a diet including green leafy vegetables and other natural sources of folic acid.
Undiagnosed anemia
This medicine should be used only when the disease is diagnosed and the need is clearly established. Small doses of this medicine may mask the symptoms of other forms of anemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
This medicine should not be used alone to treat an anemic patient having vitamin B12 deficiency.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose then the missed dose can be skipped.
Overdose
Contact your doctor if an overdose with this medicine is suspected. Symptoms of an overdose may include numbness and tingling sensation, pain in the mouth or tongue, weakness, and difficulty in concentration etc.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Use of alcohol may interfere with the absorption of folic acid from the stomach. It may also cause a reduction in the efficacy of folic acid to treat certain conditions.
Instructions
Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while taking this medicine. Contact your doctor if there is no marked improvement in symptoms after use.
Interaction with Medicine
Capecitabine
Phenytoin
Phenobarbital
Fluorouracil
Disease interactions
Undiagnosed anemia
Use of this medicine to treat an existing anemia should begin only after the cause is established. It should never be used for the treatment of an undiagnosed form of anemia. It may lead to faulty diagnosis and an increase of certain complications associated with the disease.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Folic Acid following all instructions on the label. It is recommended to take a doctor's advice before taking this medicine if the signs and symptoms are indicative of anemia. This medicine may be taken with or without food. An adequate amount of water should be consumed while taking this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
This medicine is essential for the production of certain vital components that are necessary for the maintenance of normal body functions. Lack of folic acid leads to anemia in a normal person and birth defects in pregnant women.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Vitamins
Schedule
OTC
DailyMed - Folic acid tablet [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 30 May 2017]. Available from:
Data and Statistics | Folic Acid | NCBDDD | CDC [Internet]. Cdc.gov. 2017 [cited 30 May 2017]. Available from:
Folic Acid - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 30 May 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 5 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.