Apo-Folic (Folic Acid) - 5mg (500 Tablets)
Brand Name: Apo-Folic
Drug Name: Folic Acid
Strength: 5mg
Packaging: 500 tablets
Form: Tabs
Manufacturer:
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Uses
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin known as B9. It is used for the prevention and treatment of folic acid deficiencies as seen in anemia (low red blood cell count) due to improper nutrition, pregnancy, infancy, or in childhood. It is also important for synthesis of DNA components inside your cells and maintains normal erythropoiesis (the making of red blood cells). It is often administered to alcoholics, individuals with chronic fever, those who have had surgical removal of the stomach, patients on hemodialysis, and those with malabsorption syndrome, liver problems, or long-term stress. Under normal conditions, you should get plenty from your diet.
Dosage & Administration
Folic acid dose is personalized depending on the severity of deficiency and is generally taken orally although there are intravenous injections available. The normal daily recommended dose as established by the FDA for adolescents and adult males and females is in the range of 150 to 100 mcg (0.15 to 0.1 mg), the pregnant female dose is 400 to 800 mcg, and the breast-feeding female runs 260 to 800 mcg. Dosages vary from country to country so these values are for the United States. Your dose should be no greater than 0.4mg daily until pernicious anemia is ruled out. Your healthcare provider uses the 5mg dosage to treat serious deficiencies as deemed necessary. Remember to eat properly and include mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, oranges, orange juice, dried beans, and peas in your diet to maintain proper levels of folic acid in your system.
Side Effects
No side effects have been reported accept allergic reactions. Watch for signs of shortness of breath, wheezing, fever, reddened skin, rash, itching, and weakness. With overdoses of 15mg per day, abdominal bloat, gas, anorexia, confusion, depression, nausea, sleeplessness, impaired judgment, irritability, excitement, lack of concentration, and unpleasant taste have been reported.
Precautions
Make sure you tell your doctor about any medications you are taking. Folic acid may be antagonistic to hydantoin anticonvulsants such that the dose of your anticonvulsant will need to be increased. Use of antacids decrease the absorption of folic acid by the small intestine. If you are taking cholestyramine, you will decrease absorption of folic acid as well. Pernicious anemia must be ruled out before taking folic acid as folic acid will correct the red blood cell count masking neurological deficits. Pernicious anemia occurs when the body is unable to absorb the vitamin B12 due to the lack of a protein known as intrinsic factor that is normally produced by the stomach. B12 is also necessary for the production of red blood cells.
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