Folic acid injections

[sirlam]

Hi. Have just discovered that (by mistake) I ordered a mixed box, 5 each of B12 (cyano, 3mg) and folic acid (20mg) ! So, does anyone inject folic acid? Should I divide into 5mg doses and keep in the dark etc to inject daily? Anything I need to know? THANK YOU!!

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi Sirlam. The 20mg ampoules of folic acid are single dose ampoules. Please do not divide the single dose ampoules into four doses and save for injection later. Single dose ampoules are just that: single dose ampoules.

I see you ordered the folate by mistake...what makes you think you need to inject it?

[sirlam in reply to Foggyme]

I guess just because it came in ampoules! Only later did it occur to me that I absorb folic acid (unlike B12) normally so I could just drink it

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to sirlam]

👍👍

[fbirder]

I would just add 1/10 of the folic acid to a drink each day. Much safer than splitting and injecting.

[ndodge in reply to fbirder]

Is it really okay to drink it? And what about contamination once the ampoule had been opened? Just wondering...

[fbirder in reply to ndodge]

If it's OK to inject it'll be more than OK to drink. And it'll get no more contaminated than would a bottle of wine - and I don't let such worries stop me there.

I'm not sure about stability in solution. OK, a quick google later... It's unstable without some extra bits - ijpcsonline.com/files/39-05... - which I assume are in the solution for injection. So I would add the portion to a drink just before taking it.

[ndodge in reply to fbirder]

Thanks for looking that up, fbirder!

Good to know.

[Bluedragon]

Why not just inject- say weekly?

[fbirder in reply to Bluedragon]

Because there's no need and no advantage. Indeed, it would be worse than drinking it.

Folic acid has an elimination half-life of around 1.5 hours. Within 10 hours of an IM dose 90% of the folic acid has been eliminated in the urine. So injecting once a week would result in low levels of folate for 6 days out of seven.

Most of the folic acid you ingest gets absorbed, so the amount reaching the blood is about the same as if you inject it.

[sirlam]

Thank you so much for all your replies. I did wonder about drinking it - seems like a good plan!! I shall let you know how I get on X