Folic Acid
Brand names: Active FE, Active OB, Advanced AM PM, Animal Shapes, Animal Shapes w/Iron Chewtabs, Animi-3, Animi-3 with Vitamin D, Av-VITE FB, Av-VITE FB Forte, Azalgia, Azesco, B-Nexa, BACMIN, BP Vit 3, Bal-Care DHA, Bal-Care DHA Essential, BiferaRx, BioFerr 90, Biopar delta-FORTE, C-Nate DHA, CITRANATAL B-CALM, CORVITA 150, Calcium PNV, Cavan Alpha, Cavan-EC SOD DHA, Centratex, Centrum Specialist Prenatal, Choice OB DHA, Cholecal DF, Chromagen, Ciferex, Cifrazol, CitraNatal, CitraNatal 90 DHA, CitraNatal Assure, CitraNatal Bloom, CitraNatal Bloom DHA, CitraNatal DHA, CitraNatal Essence, CitraNatal Harmony, CitraNatal Harmony 3.0, CitraNatal Medley, CitraNatal Rx, Citranatal Harmony 2.1, Co-Balamin, Co-Veratrol, Complete Natal DHA, CompleteNate Chewable, Concept DHA, Concept OB, Corvita, Corvite, Corvite 150, Corvite FE, Corvite Free, CyFolex, DEXIFOL, DaVITE, Daily-Vite, DermaNIC, DermacinRx FoliPlus D, DermacinRx PureFolix, Dermamed Nutrition for troubled skin, Dialyvite, Dialyvite 3000, Dialyvite 5000, Dialyvite Supreme D, Dialyvite with Zinc, Divista, Dothelle DHA, Duet DHA, Duet DHA Balanced, Durachol, Elite OB, EnBrace HR, EnLyte, Escavite, Escavite D, Extra-Virt Plus DHA, FE C Tab Plus, FOLIKA-CI, FOLIKA-D, FOLIKA-MG, FOLIKA-NC, FOLIKA-V, FOLVIK-D, FOLVITE-FE, FaBB, Falessa, FeRiva, FeRiva 21 7, FeRiva FA, FeRivaFA, FerraPlus 90, Ferralet 90, FerroGels Forte, Floriva, Focalgin 90 DHA, Focalgin B, Focalgin CA, Focalgin DSS, Folastin, Folbic, Folcal DHA, Folcaps, Folcaps Care One, Folcaps Omega-3, Folet DHA, Folet One, Folgard, Folic D3, Folinex, Folite, Folivane -PRx DHA, Folivane-F, Folivane-OB, Folixapure, Foltabs 800, Foltabs Prenatal, Foltrate, Fusion Plus, Gesticare DHA, HEMATOGEN FORTE, HEMETAB, HYLAVITE, HYLAZINC, Hematogen FA, Hematogen Forte, HemeNatal OB, HemeNatal OB plus DHA, Hemocyte F, Hemocyte Plus, INATAL ADVANCE, INATAL Ultra, IROSPAN 24/6, Iferex 150 Forte, Integra F, Integra Plus, Iron Aspartate Glycinate and Polysaccharide Complex, Ascorbic Calcium, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Calcium Threonate and Succinic Acid, Iron Fumarate and Aspartate, Glycinate, Ascorbic Calcium, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Calcium Threonate and Succinic Acid, Iron Polysaccharides Folic Acid DHA, Kimchi Vitamin, Lexazin, M-Natal Plus, MVC, MVC-Fluoride, MYNEPHROCAPS, Macuvex, Macuzin, MagneBind 400 Rx, Marnatal F, MaxFe, Mebolic, Methaver, Methazel, Mi-Omega NF, Moms Choice Rx, Multi Pro, Multi Vitamin and Mineral, Multi Vitamin with Fluoride, Multi-Vitamin, Multi-Vitamin With Fluoride, MultiVitamin with Fluoride, MultiVitamin with Fluoride Chewable, Multivitamin with Fluoride, Multivitamin with fluoride, Myferon 150 Forte, Myhephron, NATALVIRT 90DHA, NATALVIRT CA, NEONATAL Complete, NEONATAL DHA, NEONATAL FE, NEONATAL PLUS VITAMIN, NEONATAL VITAMIN, NEONATAL19, NESTABS, NESTABS ABC, NESTABS DHA, NICAPRIN, NOXIFOL-D, Nata Komplete, NataChew, NataFort, Natal-V RX Multi-vitamin/Multi-mineral, Natalvirt FLT, Natelle One, NephPlex Rx, Nephrocaps, Nephrocaps-QT, Nephron FA, Nestabs ONE, Nexa Plus, Nexa Select, Niaacinamide Azelaic AC TURMER FA B6 Zinc Ox Copper, NicAzel, NicAzelFORTE, Nicadan, Nicadan ZX, Nicomide, Niferex, Niron Komplete, Niva-Fol, Niva-Plus, NuFera, Nutri-Tab OB, Nutri-Tab OB plus DHA, O-Cal FA multivitamin, O-Cal Prenatal Vitamin, OB Complete 400, OB Complete Chewable, OB Complete DHA, OB Complete Gold, OB Complete One, OB Complete Petite, OB Complete Premier, OB Complete Prenatal, Ocuvel, Omega-3 Rx Complete, Ortho D, Ortho DF, Oveeza, PNV Ferrous Fumarate Docusate Folic Acid, PNV OB DHA, PNV Prenatal Plus Multivitamin, PNV Prenatal Vitamin, PNV Tabs 29-1, PNV-DHA, PNV-First, PNV-OB-DHA, PNV-Omega, PNV-Select, PNV-VP-U, PR Natal 400, PR Natal 400 ec, PR Natal 430, PR Natal 430 ec, PRENATAL PLUS, PRENATAL PLUS IRON, PRENATE DHA, PRENATE Enhance, PRENATE Restore, PRENATVITE, PRENATVITE COMPLETE, PRENATVITE PLUS, Paire OB Plus DHA, PramLyte, Pre-Tabs DHA, PreFol-DHA, PreNatal 19, PreNatal Vitamins Plus, PreNexa, PrePLUS, PreQue 10, PreTAB, Prefera OB plus DHA, PreferaOB, PreferaOB ONE, PreferaOB One, PreferaOB plus DHA, Prena1, Prena1 Chew, Prena1 Plus, Prenaissance, Prenaissance Plus, Prenara, Prenatabs FA, Prenatal, Prenatal Mega Antioxidant, Prenatal Plus, Prenatal Plus Multivitamin Plus DHA MiniCaps, Prenatal Vitamin No 53 Iron Fum Folic Acid Docusate CA DHA, Prenatal Vitamins Plus, Prenatal Vitamins Plus Low Iron, Prenatal, DHA, Prenate AM, Prenate Chewable, Prenate Elite, Prenate Essential, Prenate Mini, Prenate Pixie, Prenate Star, Preplus, Provida DHA, Provida OB, Puralor, PureFe OB Plus, PureFe Plus, PureVit DualFe Plus, Quflora Gummies, Quflora Pediatric, RELNATE DHA, RENO CAPS, RESTORA RX, ROXIFOL-D, Reaphirm Plant Source DHA, RediChew, Renal Caps, Reno Caps, Revesta, Ring Relief, Rulavite DHA, Se-Care Chewable, Se-Natal 19, Se-Natal 19 Chewable, Se-Natal One, Se-Tan DHA, Se-Tan PLUS, Select OB, Select-OB Plus DHA, SetonET, SetonET-EC, Sodium polysulthionate and folic acid, Strovite Forte, Strovite One, Sulfzix, TARON-PREX, TL G-Fol OS, TL Gard Rx, TL-Care DHA, TL-Fluorivite, TL-Fol 500, TL-Folate, TL-HEM 150, TL-Icon, TL-Select, TL-Select DHA, TOZAL, TRICARE PRENATAL, TRICARE PRENATAL COMPLEAT, TRICARE PRENATAL DHA ONE, TRICARE PRENATAL DHA ONE RX, TRICON, TRONVite, Tandem - F, Tandem DHA, Tandem OB, Tandem Plus, Taron Bc, Taron Forte, Taron-C DHA, Temporary Fibromyalgia Pain and Discomfort Relief, Thrivite 19, Thrivite Rx, Tri-Zel, TriAdvance, TriStart DHA, TriStart ONE, Trigels-F Forte, Trinatal GT, Trinatal Rx 1, Trinatal Ultra, TriphroCaps, Triveen-Duo DHA, Triveen-PRx, UDAMIN SP, Ultimate OB DHA, UltimateCare, UltimateCare ONE, V-Natal, VITAFOL Gummies, VP CH Plus, VP CH Ultra, VP-CH-PNV, VP-GGR-B6, VP-HEME OB, VP-HEME OB DHA, VP-HEME One, VP-Iron-C Plus, VP-PNV-DHA, VP-Vite Rx, VP-ZEL, VemaVite-PRx 2, Vena-Bal DHA, Virt Nate, Virt Vite GT, Virt-Advance, Virt-Bal DHA Plus, Virt-C DHA, Virt-Caps, Virt-Care One, Virt-Gard, Virt-Nate, Virt-Nate DHA, Virt-PN, Virt-PN DHA, Virt-PN Plus, Virt-Select, Virt-Tabs, Virt-Vite, Virt-Vite Forte, Virt-Vite Plus, VirtPrex, Vita-Rx Diabetic Vitamin, Vitafol, Vitafol Fe Plus, Vitafol OB, Vitafol-OB Plus DHA, Vital-D Rx, Viva CT, Vol-Care Rx, Vol-Nate, Vol-Plus, Vol-Tab Rx, WesTab Mini, WesTab Plus, WestGel DHA, XYZMUNE, Xyzbac, Zatean-CH, Zatean-Pn, Zatean-Pn DHA, Zatean-Pn Plus, Zavara, Zingiber, Zolate, Zyrexal, Zyvit, healthy mamaBE WELL ROUNDED, prenate essential, prenate mini, vitaMedMD, vitaMedMD One Rx, Folic Acid, Vitrexate, Vitranol, Folic acid, Vitramyn, Multitam, FOLIC ACID, Venexa, Ventrixyl, Vitrexyl, QUIOFIC
Warnings
No boxed warning. Key warning: "administration of folic acid alone is improper therapy for pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias in which vitamin B12 is deficient" - doses above 0.1 mg daily may correct the blood picture while neurologic damage from B12 deficiency continues to progress, so B12 deficiency must be excluded before treating with folic acid alone. The label also notes folic acid may antagonize phenytoin's anticonvulsant action.
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Folic acid, USP is contraindicated in patients who have shown previous intolerance to the drug.
Overdose
OVERDOSAGE Except during pregnancy and lactation, folic acid should not be given in therapeutic doses greater than 0.4 mg daily until pernicious anemia has been ruled out. Patients with pernicious anemia receiving more than 0.4 mg of folic acid daily who are inadequately treated with vitamin B 12 may show reversion of the hematologic parameters to normal, but neurologic manifestations due to vitamin B 12 deficiency will progress. Doses of folic acid exceeding the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) should not be included in multivitamin preparations; if therapeutic amounts are necessary, folic acid should be given separately.
Drug interactions
Drug Interactions There is evidence that the anticonvulsant action of phenytoin is antagonized by folic acid. A patient whose epilepsy is completely controlled by phenytoin may require increased doses to prevent convulsions if folic acid is given. Folate deficiency may result from increased loss of folate, as in renal dialysis and/or interference with metabolism (e.g., folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate); the administration of anticonvulsants, such as diphenylhydantoin, primidone, and barbiturates; alcohol consumption and, especially, alcoholic cirrhosis; and the administration of pyrimethamine and nitrofurantoin. False low serum and red cell folate levels may occur if the patient has been taking antibiotics, such as tetracycline, which suppress the growth of Lactobacillus casei.
Uses
Folic acid is effective in the treatment of megaloblastic anemias due to a deficiency of folic acid (as may be seen in tropical or nontropical sprue) and in anemias of nutritional origin, pregnancy, infancy, or childhood.
Dosage forms & strengths
DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION Oral administration is preferred. Although most patients with malabsorption cannot absorb food folates, they are able to absorb folic acid, USP given orally. Parenteral administration is not advocated but may be necessary in some individuals (e.g., patients receiving parenteral or enteral alimentation). Doses greater than 0.1 mg should not be used unless ane mia due to vitamin B 12 deficiency has been ruled out or is being adequately treated with a cobalamin. Daily doses greater than 1 mg do not enhance the hematologic effect, and most of the excess is excreted unchanged in the urine. The usual therapeutic dosage in adults and children (regard less of age) is up to 1 mg daily. Resistant cases may require larger doses. When clinical symptoms have subsided and the blood picture has become normal, a daily maintenance level should be used, i.e., 0.1 mg for infants and up to 0.3 mg for children under 4 years of age, 0.4 mg for adults and children 4 or more years of age, and 0.8 mg for pregnant and lactating women, but never less than 0.1 mg/day. Patients should be kept under close supervision and adjustment of the maintenance level made if relapse appears imminent. In the presence of alcoholism, hemolytic anemia, anticonvulsant therapy, or chronic infection, the maintenance level may need to be increased.
All identified pills
V245
WHITE OVAL · Folic Acid
V249
BROWN OVAL · Folic Acid
V251
BROWN CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V251
BROWN CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V254
WHITE ROUND · Folic Acid
V258
BROWN OVAL · Folic Acid
V258
BROWN OVAL · Folic Acid
V259
PINK ROUND · Folic Acid
V259
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
V260
BLACK OVAL · Folic Acid
2 manufacturers
V264
WHITE CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V264
WHITE OVAL · Folic Acid
V267
WHITE OVAL · Folic Acid
V267
WHITE OVAL · Folic Acid
V270
PURPLE OVAL · Folic Acid
V344
RED CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V348
RED CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V349
RED CAPSULE · Folic Acid
V353
PINK ROUND · Folic Acid
V355
BROWN OVAL · Folic Acid
V356
YELLOW ROUND · Folic Acid
V357
YELLOW OVAL · Folic Acid
V370
BROWN OVAL · Folic Acid
VCT
PINK ROUND · Folic Acid
VP010
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
VP011
GREEN OVAL · Folic Acid
VP011
GREEN OVAL · Folic Acid
VP030
WHITE OVAL · Folic Acid
VP031
RED OVAL · Folic Acid
VP039
BLUE ROUND · Folic Acid
VP042
RED OVAL · Folic Acid
VP042
RED OVAL · Folic Acid
VP043
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
VP044
PURPLE CAPSULE · Folic Acid
VP048
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
VP049
PURPLE CAPSULE · Folic Acid
VP052
RED OVAL · Folic Acid
VP059
PURPLE OVAL · Folic Acid
VP068
YELLOW OVAL · Folic Acid
VPHEME
PURPLE OVAL · Folic Acid
VPHEME
PURPLE OVAL · Folic Acid
VPHEME
PURPLE OVAL · Folic Acid
VTAB
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
VTAB
YELLOW OVAL · Folic Acid
VZF
GREEN OVAL · Folic Acid
WC
WHITE ROUND · Folic Acid
WC 001
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
WC 001
PINK OVAL · Folic Acid
Side effects
Reactions are rare: "allergic sensitization has been reported following both oral and parenteral administration," with rare responses including erythema, skin rash, itching, general malaise, and respiratory difficulty due to bronchospasm. At high doses (around 15 mg/day) gastrointestinal effects such as anorexia, nausea, abdominal distention, and flatulence have been reported, along with altered sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and confusion.