Prenatal multivitamin

Generic Name: prenatal multivitamin (pree-NATE-al muhl-tee-VYE-ta-min/MIN-er-als/EYE-urn/FOE-lik AS-id)
Brand Name: Duet DHA with Ferrazone

Prenatal multivitamin is used for:

Treating or preventing a lack of vitamins or minerals before, during, and after pregnancy and while breast-feeding. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Prenatal multivitamin is a vitamin, mineral, and omega-3 fatty acid combination. It works by providing vitamins and minerals to the body to help meet nutritional requirements.

Do NOT use prenatal multivitamin if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in prenatal multivitamin (including fish or fish oil)
• you have hemochromatosis (a disorder of iron metabolism) or Wilson disease (a disorder of copper metabolism)
• you are taking acitretin or an anticoagulant (eg, warfarin)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

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Before using prenatal multivitamin:

Some medical conditions may interact with prenatal multivitamin. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have stomach or intestinal problems (eg, colitis, Crohn disease, diverticulitis), pernicious anemia or other blood problems (eg, anemia, porphyria), bleeding problems (eg, hemophilia), liver problems, kidney stones, or peptic ulcer
• if you have had multiple blood transfusions

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with prenatal multivitamin. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin) because the risk of bleeding may be increased by prenatal multivitamin
• Acitretin, cation exchange resins (eg, sodium polystyrene sulfonate), or fluorouracil because the risk of their side effects may be increased by prenatal multivitamin
• Hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), levodopa, methotrexate, or penicillamine because their effectiveness may be decreased by prenatal multivitamin

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if prenatal multivitamin may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use prenatal multivitamin:

Use prenatal multivitamin as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• This pack contains a prenatal multivitamin tablet and a DHA capsule.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you should take prenatal multivitamin with food or on an empty stomach. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
• Take prenatal multivitamin by mouth with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL).
• The prenatal multivitamin tablet and DHA capsule may be taken together or at different times of the day.
• The DHA capsule should be swallowed whole. Do not break, crush, or chew the capsule.
• Do not take an antacid within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take prenatal multivitamin.
• Avoid taking prenatal multivitamin with dairy products; they may interfere with the absorption of the iron in prenatal multivitamin.
• Many medicines (eg, used for infection, blood pressure, immune system suppression, low blood platelets, osteoporosis, thyroid problems) should not be taken at the same time as prenatal multivitamin; their effectiveness may be decreased. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your dose of prenatal multivitamin should be separated from your dose of any of your other medicines.
• If you miss a dose of prenatal multivitamin, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use prenatal multivitamin.

Important safety information:

• Do NOT take more than the recommended dose of prenatal multivitamin without checking with your doctor.
• Do not take large doses of vitamins while you are taking prenatal multivitamin unless your doctor tells you to.
• Prenatal multivitamin may discolor the stools. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
• Prenatal multivitamin has pyridoxine (vitamin B₆) in it. Before you start any new medicine, check the label to see if it has pyridoxine (vitamin B₆) in it too. If it does or if you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Prenatal multivitamin has iron in it. Iron overdose is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than 6 years old. In case of an overdose, call a doctor or poison control center right away.
• Some brands of prenatal multivitamin may contain fish oil. If you have had an allergic reaction to fish or fish oil, ask your pharmacist if your brand contains fish oil.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Prenatal multivitamin is intended for use during pregnancy and breast-feeding. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use prenatal multivitamin, check with your doctor.

Possible side effects of prenatal multivitamin:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; dark or discolored stools; diarrhea; nausea; stomach upset; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry stools; blood or streaks of blood in the stools; stomach pain or cramping.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include black, tarry stools; chest pain; loss of balance; seizure; severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain; shortness of breath; sluggishness; trouble breathing; unusual tiredness or weakness; unusually pale skin; weak pulse.

Store prenatal multivitamin at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep prenatal multivitamin out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about prenatal multivitamin, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Prenatal multivitamin is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take prenatal multivitamin or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about prenatal multivitamin. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to prenatal multivitamin. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using prenatal multivitamin.

Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.