← Search & browse all drugs
BLOOD AND BLOOD FORMING ORGANS › ANTIANEMIC PREPARATIONS › VITAMIN B12 AND FOLIC ACID › Folic acid and derivatives
folic acid, combinations
B03BB51
Forms & Strengths
- Oral tablets containing Folic Acid combined with various vitamins (e.g., B complex, minerals, or iron)
Adult Dosing
- General nutritional supplementation: 1 tablet daily or as directed by a healthcare provider
- Preconception and pregnancy support: Dosing aligns with specific multivitamin-mineral combination labeling, typically containing 400 mcg to 1 mg of folic acid daily
Pediatric Dosing
- Pediatric dosing is dependent on the specific combination product formulation and age/weight-based nutritional requirements; consult specific product labeling or a pediatrician
Indications
- Prevention and treatment of folate deficiency
- Nutritional supplementation during pregnancy, lactation, and periods of high metabolic demand
- Prevention of neural tube defects in women of childbearing potential
Mechanism of Action
- Folic acid is reduced in the body to tetrahydrofolate, which acts as a coenzyme for various metabolic processes including purine and pyrimidine synthesis, and the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine
- Essential for nucleoprotein synthesis and maintaining normal erythropoiesis
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to folic acid or any component of the specific combination product
- Undiagnosed megaloblastic anemia, where vitamin B12 deficiency must be ruled out first to prevent irreversible neurological damage
Adverse Reactions
- Rare reports of allergic hypersensitivity reactions (pruritus, rash, urticaria)
- Gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, abdominal distension, flatulence) occasionally reported with high doses or specific combination ingredients
Drug Interactions
- Antiepileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine): Folic acid may decrease serum concentrations of these medications, potentially increasing seizure frequency
- Methotrexate: Acts as a folate antagonist; high-dose folic acid may interfere with the antineoplastic or immunosuppressive efficacy of methotrexate
- Sulfasalazine and cholestyramine: May impair the absorption and reduce serum levels of folic acid
Curated Content: Needs Vetting Before Put to Clinical Use