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Folate Deficiency Supplements (Folic Acid)

Other names: Folic Acid Deficiency

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 12, 2024.

Folate deficiency is when you have low folate (vitamin B9) blood levels. Folate deficiency can cause a certain type of anemia called megaloblasic anemia, and pregnant wormen may have an increase risk that their baby has a neural tube defect. Folate deficiency can be caused by not enough folate in the diet, a problem absorbing folate or if your body has an increased need for folate like if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

Folate deficiency is treated with folic acid supplements. Folic acid is the man-made form of folate (vitamin B9), folic acid is changed into folate by the body. Folate is important for for making red blood cells and also making and maintaining new cells in your body.

Folate deficiency symptoms include feeling tired, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, mouth ulcers, inflamed and painful tongue, depression, irritability, insomnia, and a decline in thinking and memory. Pregnant women who have folate deficiency have an increase risk of their baby having a neural tube defect, which is a birth defect of the spinal cord or brain.

Folic acid is found in foods such as dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole-wheat products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and spinach. Folic acid can be taken as a supplement and some foods have folic acid added to them and are labeled folic acid enriched.

Drugs used to treat Folate Deficiency

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
Deplin 8.8 13 reviews for Deplin to treat Folate Deficiency
Rx N N
Generic name:
l-methylfolate systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
l-methylfolate 8.1 18 reviews for l-methylfolate to treat Folate Deficiency
Rx/OTC N N
Generic name:
l-methylfolate systemic
Brand names:
Deplin, Elfolate, XaQuil XR, Denovo
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
folic acid 4.3 5 reviews for folic acid to treat Folate Deficiency
Rx/OTC A N
Generic name:
folic acid systemic
Brand names:
Folacin-800, FA-8
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
For professionals:
AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
Denovo Rate Add review
OTC N N
Generic name:
l-methylfolate systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Elfolate Rate Add review
Rx N N
Generic name:
l-methylfolate systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
FA-8 Rate Add review
Rx/OTC A N
Generic name:
folic acid systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
Folacin-800 Rate Add review
Rx/OTC A N
Generic name:
folic acid systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects
XaQuil XR Rate Add review
Rx N N
Generic name:
l-methylfolate systemic
Drug class:
vitamins
For consumers:
dosage, interactions, side effects

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about Folate Deficiency

Care guides

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.