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Folic Acid Vitamin B9 Brand Names
Folacin | Folicet | Q-TABS
What is Folic Acid Vitamin B9
Folic acid is a water-soluble, B-complex vitamin that is available orally and parenterally.
This vitamin is found in a variety of foods including liver, kidneys, yeast, and leafy, green vegetables.
A deficiency in folic acid can cause a variety of hematologic complications including megaloblastic and macrocytic anemias. In addition to treating megaloblastic and macrocytic anemias as well as tropical sprue, this vitamin is also used as a diagnostic aid for folate deficiency.
In recent years, it has been discovered that adequate folic acid intake can substantially decrease the risk of congenital neural tube defects.
Unlike the folic acid derivative leucovorin, folic acid is not clinically useful in offsetting the action of folate reductase inhibitors because it requires the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase for activation.
Folic acid is also ineffective in the treatment of aplastic and normocytic anemias.
Prescription forms of folic acid were approved by the FDA in 1946. In 1998, the recommended dietary allowance for all women of child bearing age who are capable of becoming pregnant was increased to 400 mcg of folic acid daily.
As of 1998, the FDA has required that all food manufacturers fortify enriched grain products with folic acid to reduce the risk of congenital neural tube defects.
Indications
- folate deficiency diagnosis
- folate deficiency megaloblastic anemia
- homocystinuria
- macrocytic anemia
- methotrexate toxicity prophylaxis
- neural tube defect prophylaxis
- nutritional supplementation
- sickle cell disease
- tropical sprue
For the treatment of folate deficiency megaloblastic anemia
for the treatment of folate deficiency megaloblastic anemia or macrocytic anemia secondary to folic acid deficiency, hepatic disease, alcoholism, intestinal obstruction, or excessive hemolysis
Side Effects
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anorexia
- bronchospasm
- confusion
- depression
- dysgeusia
- erythema
- excitability
- flatulence
- irritability
- malaise
- nausea
- pruritus
- rash
Monitoring Parameters
- CBC
Contraindications
- benzyl alcohol hypersensitivity
- breast-feeding
- folic acid hypersensitivity
- neonates
- pernicious anemia
- pregnancy
- premature neonates
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
Folic acid is contraindicated for use in patients with folic acid hypersensitivity.
Interactions
- Abacavir; Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Aliskiren; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Amiloride; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
- Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
- Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Atenolol
- Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Azilsartan; Chlorthalidone
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Benazepril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
- Betamethasone; Calcipotriene
- Bictegravir; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcipotriene
- Calcitonin
- Calcium Phosphate, Supersaturated
- Candesartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Capecitabine
- Captopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Cardiac glycosides
- Chloramphenicol
- Chlorothiazide
- Chlorthalidone
- Chlorthalidone; Clonidine
- Cholestyramine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Colesevelam
- Conjugated Estrogens
- Conjugated Estrogens; Bazedoxifene
- Conjugated Estrogens; Medroxyprogesterone
- Delafloxacin
- Dienogest; Estradiol valerate
- Diethylstilbestrol, DES
- Dolutegravir
- Dolutegravir; Lamivudine
- Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
- Drospirenone; Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol; Levomefolate
- Edetate Calcium Disodium, Calcium EDTA
- Edetate Disodium, Disodium EDTA
- Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate
- Eltrombopag
- Enalapril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Eprosartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Esterified Estrogens
- Esterified Estrogens; Methyltestosterone
- Estradiol
- Estradiol Cypionate; Medroxyprogesterone
- Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Estradiol; Progesterone
- Estramustine
- Estrogens
- Estropipate
- Ethanol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Desogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Ethynodiol Diacetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Etonogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Ferrous bisglycinate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Folic Acid; Levomefolate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norelgestromin
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestrel
- Ethotoin
- Fosinopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Fosphenytoin
- Gallium
- Hydralazine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Irbesartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Lisinopril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Losartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Moexipril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Quinapril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Spironolactone
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Telmisartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Triamterene
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
- Ibritumomab Tiuxetan
- Levofloxacin
- Mestranol; Norethindrone
- Methotrexate
- Methyclothiazide
- Metolazone
- Moxifloxacin
- Neuromuscular blockers
- Nitrofurantoin
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Omeprazole; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Phosphorated Carbohydrate Solution
- Phosphorus
- Potassium Phosphate
- Potassium Phosphate; Sodium Phosphate
- Primidone
- Pyrimethamine
- Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine
- Segesterone Acetate; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Sodium Fluoride
- Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous
- Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim, SMX-TMP, Cotrimoxazole
- Sulfasalazine
- Tetracyclines
- Thiazide diuretics
- Thyroid hormones
- Trientine
- Trimethoprim
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D analogs
