Folic Acid (Vitamin B 9) (Systemic)
Brand Names : Folvite, Apo-Folic, Novo-Folacid, Vitamin B 9
Before Using This Dietary SupplementIn deciding to use folic acid, the risks of taking it must be weighed against
the good it will do. This is a decision you and your health care professional
will make. For folic acid, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your health care professional if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to folic acid. Also tell your health
care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods,
preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - It is especially important that you are receiving
enough vitamins when you become pregnant and that you continue to receive
the right amount of vitamins, especially folic acid, throughout your pregnancy.
The healthy growth and development of the fetus depend on a steady supply
of nutrients from the mother. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement
in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided. Your health care professional may recommend that you take folic acid alone
or as part of a multivitamin supplement before you become pregnant and during
early pregnancy. Folic acid may reduce the chances of your baby being born
with a certain type of birth defect (neural tube defects).
Breast-feeding - It is especially important that you receive the
right amounts of vitamins so that your baby will also get the vitamins needed
to grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement while
breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and should be avoided.
Children - Problems in children have not been reported with
intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Older adults - Problems in older adults have not been reported with
intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Medicines or other dietary supplements - Although certain medicines or dietary supplements should not be used together
at all, in other cases they may be used together even if an interaction might
occur. In these cases, your health care professional may want to change the
dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional
if you are taking any other dietary supplement or any prescription or nonprescription
(over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of folic acid. Make sure you tell your health
care professional if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Pernicious anemia (a type of blood problem) - Taking folic acid
while you have pernicious anemia may cause serious side effects. You should
be sure that you do not have pernicious anemia before beginning folic acid
supplementation
|