What Are The Uses Of Folic Acid?

Folic acid is used for preventing & treating folate deficiency, and its complications, like anaemia, inability of the bowel to absorb nutrients properly. Folic acid is also used for folate deficiency conditions including liver disease, ulcerative colitis, alcoholism, and kidney dialysis.

Pregnant women are advised to take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and neural tube defects. 

What Are The Side Effects Of Folic Acid?

Some of the side effects (though rare) of Folic Acid are:

• Constipation
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Nausea
• Sleeping disturbances
• Allergic rejection
• Bloating

Please consult your doctor if you get any of the above side effects, especially if they do not go away within 3-4 days of starting the use.

What Are The Contraindications Of Folic Acid?

• Antibiotics. Iron decreases the effectiveness of certain types of antibiotics. Hence, there should be a gap of 1-2 hours between iron and antibiotics dose.
• Bisphosphonates, Levodopa, Levothyroxine, Methyldopa and Mycophenolate Mofetil, Iron might decreases the absorption of these medicines. Hence, if you are taking any medicines containing any of these salts, you should keep a gap of 1-2 hours between any iron supplement and these medicines.