Folic acid

[Frankiepoos1]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has been prescribed folic acid, I had blood tests on Wednesday and received a phone call from surgery to ask me to pick prescription up, my vasculitis is in remission and I stopped taking steroids in beginning of February but have been suffering pains in every joint in my body and total fatigue thanks

[Hidden]

Hi frankiepoos,

Your folate must be low if you have been prescribed folic acid. Are you on an immunosupressant or off all your Vasculitis medication?

[Frankiepoos1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying Keyes no I'm on myfenex and still under professor at MRI.

[PMRpro in reply to Frankiepoos1]

Mycophenolate (Myfenax) works by inhibiting folic acid - so to avoid side effects it is advisable to put patients on to folic acid. It's the same sort of thing as with methotrexate - there are several immunosuppressants that do it.

[LynneJ Vasculitis UK Volunteer]

I am on azathioprine and rituximab and when I saw a haematologist after an infection he put me on 5mg folic acid a day. I later asked how long I should take it and was told, long term and it is a vitamin.

[Frankiepoos1 in reply to LynneJ]

Thank you lynne I was worried

[LynneJ Vasculitis UK Volunteer]

I always worry when my meds change!

I have been on it for over a year now. No reactions or anything. Good luck.

[Frankiepoos1]

Thanks so much x

[Hidden]

Most people I know on Mycophenolate don't take folic acid as well, I am not sure that it inhibits folate in the same way that Methotrexate does. When I was on Mycophenolate I certainly wasn't prescribed folic acid as well.

I would ask your GP why they have prescribed the folic acid. It may be worthwhile asking for your Vit B12 to be checked as sometimes low folate can go hand in hand with that. Low B12 is very common in auto immune disease and can lead to fatigue etc.

[Frankiepoos1 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Keyes I have an appointment on Tuesday with the professor I'm under at MRI so will surely mention it then once again thanks for the reply.

[jofrable]

yes, 800/1000 units I do methotrexate weekly IM