Uses

Folic acid helps your body to produce and maintain new cells. Folic acid also helps in preventing the changes to DNA that may lead to cancer. When taken as medicine, this medicine is used to treat folic acid deficiency and a particular type of anemia, i.e., lack of red blood cells caused by folic acid deficiency.

Folic acid is also used to treat and prevent low blood levels of folate (folate deficiency) and high blood levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia).

Women who are pregnant or about to get pregnant should take folic acid to prevent miscarriages and neural tube defects.

Folic acid is also used for other conditions like stroke, depression, thinking skills, the decline in memory, etc.

Dosage

Take the folic acid exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist. Do not take this medicine in larger amounts than recommended.

Take this medicine with a glass full of water. Your doctor may occasionally increase the power and dosage to get the best results according to your medical condition.

For adults  

400 to 800 mcg orally for Folic acid deficiency

For child

0.1   mg orally, once a day

For Infant

Initial dose: 1mg orally once a day

Side Effects

• Nausea

• Loss of appetite

• Unpleasant or bitter taste in your mouth

• Confusion

• Depression

• Feeling excited

• Sleep problems

• Bloating

• Gas

• Stomach pain

• Feeling irritable or excited

• Headache 

When Not to Use

Dont use this folic acid, if you have any hypersensitivity.

Formula

• Folic Acid

Precautions

• Use this medicine with cautions in undiagnosed anemias because folic acid might cause mask anemia that is a deficiency in Vitamin B12 and delay appropriate treatment

• Using folic acid, Vitamin B6, and B12 intravenously or by mouth might worsen the narrowed arteries.

• There is no risk in pregnancy when taking this medicine

• Taking folic acid might make the seizures worse in people with a seizure disorder, particularly in high doses.

• Breastfeeding is safe when the medicine is taken appropriately.