Folic acid

[loopyLoopster1968]

Hi is okay to 5mg folic acid every day iv took it for four months don’t know if to have a break or keep taking it I was diagnosed b12 in January get injections every three months.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi @loopyloopster1968 I think you should ask your doctor to test your Folate level and tell you when to stop.

As long as you eat plenty of leafy green vegetable in your daily diet you should be getting enough. Folic acid is also to be found in many breakfast cereals.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[loopyLoopster1968 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you @clivealive

[Foggyme Administrator]

LoopyLoopster1968.

5mg folic acid is a high dose and usually only prescribed for a proven deficiency for a period of three to four months, after which a GP would usually test folic acid levels and the adjust the dose accordingly. Some remain on 400mcg maintenance dose of folic acid, and some don't need supplements at all once the initial deficiency has been addressed.

So, unless you are on medications that impede the absorption of folic acid and your GP has specifically told you to remain on the 5mg dose, suggest you drop down to 400mcg and get your GP to test your folate levels (as per Clivealive’s suggestion).

Continued over-supplementation with folic acid can cause quite unpleasant side-effects so best to sort out sooner rather that later.

Good luck

👍

[Colorado76 in reply to Foggyme]

What side effects come about with too much folic acid ? My care provider started me on this product called Deplin, basically medicinal food. It's the L- methylfolate form and the RX on the bottle says " 15/90.314 mg". So I'm assuming it's 15 mg. Is it just me or does that seem like a lot? I did have my folate level tested, but I was not told to fast before it, so I'm guessing it's not accurate, but came back at 14. Just don't want to mess up my body anymore than it already is.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Colorado76]

That's not an easy question to answer Colorado76 because it can be used in high doses for treating different conditions (for instance, it is given in higher doses for major depressive illness, schizophrenia...and may also be needed when taking medications that can impact on the absorption of folic acid).

And it's further complicated because your folate is low (high dose supplements should only be taken until any deficiency resolves).

Here's a link with more information about Duplin (click along the tabs at the top to view side effects)...

drugs.com/mtm/l-methylfolat...

When I took methyfolate it made me feel very ill indeed (insomnia, jittery...and just very weird in a way it's difficult to describe - plus some of the side effects in the link above. However, not everyone reacts to it in this way - some people are okay with it.

The best thing to do is to discuss this with your healthcare provider (I'm assuming that this is an appropriately qualified medical professional - doctor level?), especially if you think you may be getting side effects (or you feel more unwell than is usual for you).

👍

[Colorado76 in reply to Foggyme]

Thank you so much for the reply. It's just so hard to tell if I'm feeling this way due to the ' may get worse before better' aspect of B12 injections, or if it is this suppliment. I just got my injection Wednesday but feeling EXTREME fatigue and just so lightheaded. But I did take a Deplin wed as well. Will let my health care provider know and see what she says. Thanks for the input!

[Colorado76 in reply to Foggyme]

What should your folate level be? No one has ever told me.