Folic Acid Dosage
This dosage information may not include all the information needed to use Folic Acid safely and effectively. See additional information for Folic Acid.
The information at Drugs.com is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Usual Adult Dose for:
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Adult Dose for Megaloblastic Anemia
1 mg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day. May continue until clinical symptoms of folate deficiency and the hematological profile have normalized.
Usual Adult Dose for Folic Acid Deficiency
400 to 800 mcg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day.
Women of childbearing age, pregnant, and lactating women: 800 mcg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Folic Acid Deficiency
Infant:
0.1 mg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day.
Child:
Less than 4 years: up to 0.3 mg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day.
4 years or older: 0.4 mg orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or IV once a day.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation
Recommended daily allowance (RDA):
Premature neonates: 50 mcg/day (15 mcg/kg/day).
Full-term neonates and infants 1 to 6 months: 25 to 35 mcg/day.
Children:
1 to 3 years: 150 mcg/day.
4 to 8 years: 200 mcg/day.
9 to 13 years: 300 mcg/day.
14 years and older: 400 mcg/day.
Renal Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Dose Adjustments
Rarely, a dosage of 2 mg/day may be required, particularly in patients with malabsorption, alcoholism, chronic hemolysis, chronic exfoliative skin disease or who are on concomitant anticonvulsant therapy.
Dialysis
Folic acid is removed by both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The amount removed varies with type equipment used.
Because folate may accumulate in patients with end-stage renal disease, side effects may be more likely in this patient who is undergoing dialysis. Once this patient's body stores of folate are replete, three times a week dosing may be just as beneficial as once daily dosing but should portend a lower risk of side effects.
Other Comments
The recommended daily allowance of folic acid for adult males and females ranges from 150 to 200 and 150 to 180 mcg/day, respectively.
There is a potential danger in administering folic acid to patients with undiagnosed anemia, since folic acid may obscure the diagnosis of pernicious anemia by alleviating the hematologic manifestations of the disease while allowing the neurologic complications to progress.
Severe megaloblastic anemia may require therapy for 4 to 5 weeks. Once stabilized, if dietary intake is inadequate, maintenance therapy can be started.
