Folic Acid (Folate)

(foe’ lik)

PREGNANCY CATEGORY A

Drug Classes

Folic acid

Vitamin supplement

Therapeutic Actions

Required for nucleoprotein synthesis and maintenance of normal erythropoiesis.

Indications

• Treatment of megaloblastic anemias due to sprue, nutritional deficiency, pregnancy, infancy, and childhood

Contraindications and Cautions

• Contraindicated with allergy to folic acid preparations; pernicious, aplastic, normocytic anemias.
• Use cautiously during lactation.

Available Forms

Tablets—0.4, 0.8, 1 mg; injection—5 mg/mL

Dosages

Administer orally unless patient has severe intestinal malabsorption.

Adults

• Therapeutic dose: Up to 1 mg/day PO, IM, IV, or subcutaneously. Larger doses may be needed in severe cases.
• Maintenance dose: 0.4 mg/day.
• Pregnancy and lactation: 0.8 mg/day.

Pediatric patients

• Maintenance dose:
  • Infants: 0.1 mg/day.
  • Younger than 4 yr: Up to 0.3 mg/day.
  • Older than 4 yr: 0.4 mg/day.
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