Folic Acid 5mg Tablets

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How does it work?

Folic acid is a B vitamin that is an essential requirement of the body. It is needed for making the genetic material of cells (DNA), and thus for growth and development. Folic acid is particularly important for the maintenance of a healthy nervous system and in the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. A normal diet usually provides sufficient folic acid. A deficiency may occur due to poor diet, or in diseases of the small intestine that impair absorption of vitamins from the diet. It may also occur in pregnancy, due to an increased need for folic acid, and in people having kidney dialysis, since this removes folic acid from the blood. Certain medicines used to treat epilepsy can also cause a folic acid deficiency, as they interfere with the body's normal breakdown of folic acid. A deficiency of folic acid can cause a reduction in red blood cells, since folic acid is essential for their production. This is one cause of anaemia and folic acid supplements are given to allow red blood cell production to increase. Folic acid should be taken by all women planning pregnancy and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. This is essential for the development of the baby's spinal cord and nervous system, and to prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects. These include spina bifida and malformations such as cleft palate or cleft lip. The 5mg dose in this preparation is recommended for women whose risk of having a baby with neural tube defects is higher than normal. These women are those who themselves or whose partners have spina bifida, and those who have previously had a child with neural tube defects.

What is it used for?

- Anaemia due to poor nutrition
- Anaemia in infants
- Anaemia of pregnancy
- Folate deficiency anaemia
- Prevention of anaemia in conditions where the body breaks down red blood cells too quickly
- Prevention of anaemia in people having kidney dialysis
- Prevention of neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida in high risk women
- Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia) in combination with vitamin B12

Use with caution in

- Epilepsy
- People with tumours that are dependent on folate for growth

Not to be used in

- Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia) unless in combination with vitamin B12

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- This medicine is recommended and safe to take during pregnancy.
- There are no known harmful effects when this medicine is used by breastfeeding mothers.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence)
- Nausea
- Swelling of abdomen (abdominal distension)
- Loss of appetite

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

Folic acid may reduce the blood levels of the antiepileptic medicines phenobarbital, phenytoin and primidone, leading to decreased seizure control. If these combinations are used, the dose of the antiepileptic may need adjusting. Seek medical advice from your doctor before taking this medicine if you have epilepsy. Co-trimoxazole may reduce the effects of folic acid used to treat anaemia.

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