Consumer Drug Information

Prenate DHA


Generic Name: Prenatal Multivitamin without Vitamin A with Minerals, Iron, L-methylfolate, Folic Acid, and DHA (pree-NATE-al muhl-tee-VYE-ta-min/VYE-ta-min A MIN-er-als/EYE-urn/el-METH-il-FOE-late/FOE-lik AS-id)
Brand Name: Prenate DHA

Accidental overdose of products that contain iron is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children younger than 6 years old. Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children. In case of accidental ingestion, call the poison control center or doctor at once.


Prenate DHA is used for:

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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.

Prenate DHA is a vitamin, mineral, iron, folic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) combination. It works by providing vitamins and minerals to the body to help meet nutritional requirements.

Do NOT use Prenate DHA if:

  • you are allergic to any ingredient in Prenate DHA
  • you have hemochromatosis (a disorder of iron metabolism) or high levels of iron in your blood
  • you are taking an anticoagulant (eg, warfarin)

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

Before using Prenate DHA :

  • 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, including fish or fish oil
  • 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), peptic ulcer, or kidney stones
  • if you have had multiple blood transfusions

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Prenate DHA . 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 Prenate DHA
  • Fluorouracil because the risk of its side effects may be increased by Prenate DHA
  • Doxycycline, hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), penicillamine, or thyroid hormones (eg, levothyroxine) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Prenate DHA

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Prenate DHA 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 Prenate DHA :

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

  • Take Prenate DHA by mouth with or without food. If stomach upset occurs, take with food to reduce stomach irritation.
  • Take Prenate DHA by mouth with a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL).
  • Do not take an antacid within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take Prenate DHA .
  • Avoid taking Prenate DHA with dairy products; they may interfere with the absorption of the iron in Prenate DHA .
  • Many medicines (eg, used for infection, blood pressure, low blood platelet levels, osteoporosis, thyroid problems) should not be taken at the same time as Prenate DHA ; their effectiveness may be decreased. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your dose of Prenate DHA should be separated from your dose of any of your other medicines.
  • If you miss a dose of Prenate DHA , 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 Prenate DHA .

Important safety information:

  • Do not exceed the recommended dose or take Prenate DHA for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.
  • Do not take large doses of vitamins (megadoses or megavitamin therapy) unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
  • Some brands of Prenate DHA 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.
  • Prenate DHA may darken the stools. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
  • Prenate DHA 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.
  • Prenate DHA may cause false test results with kits used to check for blood in the stool or blood cholesterol. Check with your doctor if you are using either kind of test kit.
  • Prenate DHA should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
  • PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Prenate DHA is intended for use during pregnancy and breast-feeding. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Prenate DHA , check with your doctor.

Possible side effects of Prenate DHA :

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.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If OVERDOSE is suspected: Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include black, tarry stools; chest pain; lack of feeling alert; 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.

Proper storage of Prenate DHA :

Store Prenate DHA at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Prenate DHA out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

  • If you have any questions about Prenate DHA , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
  • Prenate DHA 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.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Prenate DHA . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: November 4, 2009
Database Edition 09.4.1.002
Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.




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