Folic acid
Folic acid
vitamin B9

Indication

  • Megaloblastic anaemia of pregnancy and lactation.
  • Folate deficiency due to: inadequate intake, malabsorption syndrome, excessive utilization and  increased excretion. 
  • Increased requirements of Folic acid, e.g. pregnancy, lactation, alcoholism, liver or kidney diseases, hemolytic anemia, prolonged diarrhea use of oral contraceptives.   
  • Macrocytic anemias not accompanied with neurological disturbances .
  • Megaloblastic anaemia due to certain parasitic infestations.

Composition

Each film coated tablet of Folic acid contains :

  • Folic acid       5mg.

Dosage

  • Give orally except in severe intestinal malabsorption.
  • Megaloblastic anaemia: one tablet daily for 4 months.up to 3 tablets in malabsorption.
  • Heomolytic anaemia :one tablet every 1 to 7 days.
  • pregnancy to prevention of neural tube defect :one tablet  daily starting before pregnancy and continued throagh the first trimester. 
  • Folic acid is required for nucleoprotein synthesis and maintenance of normal erythropoiesis.
  • Folic acid is reduced in the body to tetrahydrofolate, which is a coenzyme of various metabolic processes.
  • Folic acid stimulates production of red and white blood cells and platelets in certain megaloblastic anaemia .it corrects only the anaemia but does not prevent or alleviate the neurological deterioration that may accompany the disorder. Megaloblastic macrocytic anemias that are not accompanied by neurological disturbances generally respond well to folic acid.
  • Folic acid is well absorbed orally with satisfactory results except in severe incidences of intestinal malabsorption. 

Each film coated tablet of Folic acid contains :

  • Folic acid       5mg.
  • Megaloblastic anaemia of pregnancy and lactation.
  • Folate deficiency due to: inadequate intake, malabsorption syndrome, excessive utilization and  increased excretion. 
  • Increased requirements of Folic acid, e.g. pregnancy, lactation, alcoholism, liver or kidney diseases, hemolytic anemia, prolonged diarrhea use of oral contraceptives.   
  • Macrocytic anemias not accompanied with neurological disturbances .
  • Megaloblastic anaemia due to certain parasitic infestations.
  • Folic acid should not be given in pernicious anemia. 
  • Hypersensitivity to any component of the preparation .

¤ Folate deficiency may be produced by: 

  • antiepileptics
  • oral contraceptives
  • antituberculous drugs
  • alcohol
  • Folic acid antagonists  such as methotrexate, pyrimethamine, triamterene, trimethoprime and sulfonamides,

¤ so The dose of  Folic acid  must be increased in this cases.

  • Folic acid  can be used during pregnancy and lactation. 
  • Folic acid is generally well tolerated.
  • Gastrointestinal disturbances and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported rarely.
  • Large dose of Folic acid may cause yellow discoloration of urine.
  • Give orally except in severe intestinal malabsorption.
  • Megaloblastic anaemia: one tablet daily for 4 months.up to 3 tablets in malabsorption.
  • Heomolytic anaemia :one tablet every 1 to 7 days.
  • pregnancy to prevention of neural tube defect :one tablet  daily starting before pregnancy and continued throagh the first trimester. 
  • Folic acid should not be  given alone or with inadequate amounts of vitamin B12 for treatment of undiagnosed Megaloblastic anaemia. since Folic acid may produce a haematopoietic response in patients with a megaloblastic anaemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency without preventing aggravation of neurological symptoms. This masking of the true deficiency state can lead to serious neurological damage, such as subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.
  • Blister of  10 tablets, pack of 3 blisters. 
  • Hospital packs with different sizes. 
  • Store in a dry place, at a temperature below  30 °C.