Folic Acid is a prescription medicine. Megaloblastic Anemia, Nutritional Deficiency are some of its major therapeutic uses. Other than this, Folic Acid has some other therapeutic uses, which have been discussed ahead.
The right dosage of Folic Acid depends on the age, gender, and medical history of the patient. Individual symptoms and route of administration also determines the right dosage. This information has been provided in detail in the dosage section.
Some other side effects of Folic Acid have been listed ahead. Such side effects of Folic Acid normally do not last long and go away once the treatment is completed. Please speak with your doctor if these side effects worsen or persist for a longer duration.
Furthermore, you should know that effect of Folic Acid is Safe for pregnant women and Safe for women who are breastfeeding. It is important to know if Folic Acid has any effect on the kidney, liver and heart. Information on such adverse effects, if any, has been given in the Folic Acid related warnings section.
Folic Acid is not recommended if you suffer from certain medical conditions as it can have adverse effects. Drug Allergy are examples of such conditions. The section on Folic Acid contraindications lists all such conditions.
Drug interactions for Folic Acid have been reported in the medical literature. See below for a complete list.
Along with the above-mentioned precautions, remember that taking Folic Acid is considered safe while driving, and is addictive.
Folic Acid is used to treat the following -
Main Benefits
Other Benefits
This is the usual dosage recommended in most common treatment cases. Please remember that every patient and their case is different, so the dosage can be different based on the disease, route of administration, patient's age and medical history.
Find the right dosage based on disease and age
| Age Group | Dosage |
| Adult |
|
| Geriatric |
|
| Infant (1 month to 2 years) |
|
| 2 - 12 years (Child) |
|
| 13 - 18 years (Adolescent) |
|
| Adult(Male) |
|
| Adult(Female) |
|
Based on research, the following side effects have been observed when Folic Acid is used -
Severe
Moderate
Mild
Is the use of Folic Acid safe for pregnant women?
Folic Acid is safe for pregnant women.
Is the use of Folic Acid safe during breastfeeding?
Folic Acid does not show any harmful effects in lactating women.
What is the effect of Folic Acid on the Kidneys?
Folic Acid is not harmful for kidneys.
What is the effect of Folic Acid on the Liver?
There are no any side effects of Folic Acid on the liver.
What is the effect of Folic Acid on the Heart?
Folic Acid is not harmful for the heart.
Folic Acid should not be taken with following medicines due to severe side effects it may cause to patients -
Moderate
Mild
If you are suffering from any of the following diseases, you should not take Folic Acid unless your doctor advises you to do so -
Is this Folic Acid habit forming or addictive?
No, you will not get addicted to Folic Acid.
Is it safe to drive or operate heavy machinery when consuming?
Folic Acid does not cause dizziness or sleep, so you can drive a vehicle or operate machinery also.
Is it safe?
Yes, Folic Acid is safe but you must consult your doctor before taking it.
Is it able to treat mental disorders?
No, Folic Acid is not used to treat mental disorders.
Interaction between Food and Folic Acid
When consumed with certain foods, Folic Acid may take longer to have an effect. Contact your doctor about this.
Interaction between Alcohol and Folic Acid
It is difficult to say anything about the effect of Folic Acid and alcohol. No research has been done on this yet.
Some of the natural sources of Folate are green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts, meat, eggs, yeast, liver, dairy products, beans, peas, seafood, yeast, grains, beef liver, and beef kidney. Many food items are fortified with Folic acid. Folic acid is required for the synthesis of genetic material and red blood cells. Its deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia. It is also essential for pregnant women before and during the pregnancy. Deficiency of Folic acid during pregnancy can result in premature delivery and babies with the neural tube defects.
Long-term use of Folic Acid in doses 800 to 1200 micrograms can increase the risk of heart diseases, lung, and prostate cancer.
No, Folic Acid is a vitamin, whereas, Iron is a mineral. Many multivitamins and prenatal vitamins contain both these substances, as it is alright to take both of these substances together.
Yes, Folic Acid has reported interactions with medicines like fosphenytoin, methotrexate, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, and pyrimethamine. Always check with a medical practitioner once before taking them together.
Neural tube defects are the serious congenital defects that manifest when the neural tube of a baby is not able to close properly in the early weeks of pregnancy. This can lead to spinal and brain defects.
This medicine data has been created by -
B.Pharma, Pharmacy
5 Years of Experience
