Folic Acid Side Effects

Brand Names: FA-8

Please note - some side effects for Folic Acid may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Folic Acid - for the Consumer

Folic Acid

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. When used in small doses, no COMMON side effects have been reported with Folic Acid. Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Folic Acid:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site.

Folic Acid XTRA

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. No COMMON side effects have been reported with Folic Acid XTRA . Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Folic Acid XTRA:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); feeling of swelling of the entire body; numbness or tingling of the skin.

Folic Acid with Vitamin B6 and B12

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 when using Folic Acid with Vitamin B6 and B12:

Diarrhea; drowsiness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); difficulty grasping with your hands; difficulty walking; itching, tingling, or numbness of fingers or toes; loss of muscle coordination.

Folic Acid/Vitamin B6/Vitamin B12/Omega-3 Acids/Phytosterols

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor side effects. No COMMON side effects have been reported with Folic Acid/Vitamin B6/Vitamin B12/Omega-3 Acids/Phytosterols. Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Folic Acid/Vitamin B6/Vitamin B12/Omega-3 Acids/Phytosterols:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); feeling of swelling of the entire body; numbness or tingling of the skin.

Folic Acid Capsules

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. When used in small doses, no COMMON side effects have been reported with Folic Acid Capsules. Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Folic Acid Capsules:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

Folic Acid Side Effects - for the Professional

Folic Acid

Allergic sensitization has been reported following both oral and parenteral administration of Folic Acid.

Folic Acid is relatively nontoxic in man. Rare instances of allergic responses to Folic Acid preparations have been reported and have included erythema, skin rash, itching, general malaise, and respiratory difficulty due to bronchospasm. One patient experienced symptoms suggesting anaphylaxis following injection of the drug. Gastrointestinal side effects, including anorexia, nausea, abdominal distention, flatulence, and a bitter or bad taste, have been reported in patients receiving 15 mg of Folic Acid daily for 1 month. Other side effects reported in patients receiving 15 mg daily include altered sleep patterns, difficulty in concentrating, irritability, overactivity, excitement, mental depression, confusion, and impaired judgment. Decreased vitamin B12 serum levels may occur in patients receiving prolonged Folic Acid therapy.

In an uncontrolled study, orally administered Folic Acid was reported to increase the incidence of seizures in some epileptic patients receiving phenobarbital, primidone, or phenytoin. Another investigator reported decreased phenytoin serum levels in folate-deficient patients receiving phenytoin who were treated with 5 mg or 15 mg of Folic Acid daily.

Side Effects by Body System

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported rarely. They have included anorexia, nausea, abdominal distention, flatulence, and bitter taste.

Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported among patients with doses of 15 mg/day.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included sleep disturbances, concentration problems, irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and impaired judgment.

Parenteral administration of high doses of folic acid have been associated with increased seizure activity in patients with epilepsy.

Nervous system side effects have been reported in some patients who were taking 15 mg/day.

Daily doses of folic acid > 100 mcg/day can obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurologic signs and symptoms progress.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have been reported rarely. They have included erythema, rash, pruritus, malaise, dyspnea with bronchospasm, and a single case of apparent anaphylaxis.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included impaired gastrointestinal absorption of zinc.

A measurable decline in plasma zinc has been associated with folic acid dosages as low as 400 mcg/day.

Zinc is an intrinsic part of at least 70 metalloenzymes and other cellular components, and is essential for the synthesis of protein, DNA, and RNA. While zinc deficiency is rare, it may become a problem during pregnancy or with patients who have inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption, liver cirrhosis, and high alcohol intake. Zinc deficiency usually presents as diarrhea; mental irritability; depression; skin lesions of the face, perineum, limbs, and skin folds; alopecia; loss of taste; and defects in the immunologic system.

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