What is folic acid?

Folic acid may be a sort of B-complex vitamin that's normally found in foods like dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole-wheat products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spinach.

Folic acid helps your body produce and maintain new cells, and also helps prevent changes to DNA which will cause cancer as a medicine , vitamin B is employed to treat vitamin B deficiency and certain sorts of anemia (lack of red blood cells) caused by vitamin B deficiency. Folic acid is usually utilized in combination with other medications to treat pernicious, aplastic, or normocytic anemia. However it'll not treat vitamin B12 deficiency and cannot prevent possible damage to the medulla spinalis . Take all of your medications as directed.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use this medication if you've got ever had an allergy to vitamin B .If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use folic acid:

Ø  kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

Ø  hemolytic anemia;

Ø  pernicious anemia;

Ø  anemia that has not been diagnosed by a doctor and confirmed with laboratory testing;

Ø  an infection; or

Ø  if you are an alcoholic.

FDA pregnancy category A. Folic acid isn't expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, and your dose needs may even increase while you're pregnant. Talk to your doctor about taking folic acid during pregnancy. Your dose needs can also vary if you're breast-feeding a baby. Ask your doctor about taking vitamin B if you're breast-feeding.

Folic acid side effects

Get emergency medical help if you've got any of those signs of an allergy to folic acid: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects are more likely, but may include:

Ø  flushing;

Ø  nausea, loss of appetite;

Ø  bloating, gas;

Ø  bitter or unpleasant taste in your mouth;

Ø  sleep problems;

Ø  depression; or

Ø  feeling excited or irritable.

What other drugs will affect folic acid?

The dosages of other medications you take may need to be changed while you are taking folic acid.Tell your doctor about all other medications you employ , especially:

Ø    raltitrexed;

Ø    phenytoin (Dilantin);

Ø    methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);

Ø    nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid);

Ø    pyrimethamine (Daraprim);

Ø    tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Sumycin);

Ø    a barbiturate such as butabarbital (Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal), or phenobarbital (Solfoton); or

Ø    seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or primidone (Mysoline).

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