Description

🩺 What It’s Used For

Foliost is essentially folic acid (vitamin B₉). It’s prescribed for:

• Preventing and treating folate deficiency anemia, which leads to fatigue, pallor, and weakness (1mg).
• Supporting pregnancy: crucial in early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube birth defects ― usually taken before conception and through the first trimester (1mg).
• General folic acid supplementation when dietary intake is inadequate.

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💊 Mechanism of Action

Folic acid helps your body produce red blood cells and supports healthy cell division and DNA synthesis — essential for overall growth and development (1mg).

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⚠️ Side Effects: Common to Rare

🟡 Common, Mild Effects

• Nausea, mild bloating or gas, loss of appetite — often improve with food (1mg).
• Mild weight changes — sometimes unintentional weight gain or loss reported (1mg).

🔴 Serious but Rare

• Allergic reactions: rash, hives, itching, swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat; difficulty breathing — requires immediate medical attention (Drugs.com, nhs.uk).
• Neurological masking: High folic acid intake can hide vitamin B12 deficiency, potentially leading to nerve damage (Mayo Clinic).

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❗ Precautions & Interactions

• Pregnancy & breastfeeding: deemed safe when prescribed; plays a vital role in fetal neural development (1mg).
• Alcohol: should be limited during supplementation (1mg).
• Medication interactions: May affect or be affected by:
  • Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, phenobarbital) — may reduce their effectiveness or vice versa (Mayo Clinic).
  • Methotrexate, may reduce efficacy of folic acid treatment (Mayo Clinic).
• Kidney or liver disease: use under medical supervision (Drugs.com).

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✅ Usage Tips

• Dosage: Commonly 5 mg daily for deficiency or pre-pregnancy; follow your doctor’s instructions (1mg).
• Administration: Take with or after meals to reduce nausea (nhs.uk).
• Consistency: Take at the same time each day.
• Monitoring: Periodic blood tests may be prescribed to check folate and B12 levels (1mg, Cleveland Clinic).
• Do not exceed recommended dose unless directed by a healthcare provider.

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📋 Quick Summary

Aspect	Details
Active ingredient	Folic acid (Vitamin B₉)
Common uses	Anemia due to deficiency, pregnancy support
Typical dose	5 mg daily (varies per doctor’s advice)
Mild side effects	Nausea, gas, appetite loss, weight changes
Serious risks	Allergic reaction, masking B12 deficiency
Precautions	Interactions with epilepsy meds, alcoholism, B12 tests
When to consult doctor	If allergic symptoms, persistent GI issues, or if on certain medications