folic acid (vitamin B9)

Adult Dosing .

Dosage forms:  TAB: 0.4 mg, 0.8 mg, 1 mg; INJ: various

Special Note

[strength clarification]

Info: dosage forms and doses expressed as folic acid; 1 mg PO folic acid = 1.67 mg Dietary Folate Equivalent (DFE) if taken w/ food or 2 mg DFE if taken on empty stomach

megaloblastic anemia, folate deficiency-associated

[0.4 mg PO qd]

Start: 1 mg PO qd until hematologic correction; Max: 5 mg/day; Info: maint. dose for pregnant or breastfeeding pts is 0.8 mg PO qd; doses >1 mg/day rarely more effective; may use SC, IM, or IV route if PO malabsorption

sprue, tropical

[3-5 mg PO qd]

Max: 15 mg/day; Info: may use SC, IM, or IV route if PO malabsorption

dietary supplementation

[individualize dose]

Info: see Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin B9 (folic acid) table

neural tube defect prevention (off-label)

[0.4 mg PO qd]

Start: at least 1mo before conception; Info: for pts of childbearing potential; continue through 12 wk gestation; give 4 mg PO qd if high risk of neural tube defect

renal dosing

[not defined]

renal impairment: not defined

HD/PD: not defined

hepatic dosing

[not defined]

Peds Dosing .

Dosage forms:  TAB: 0.4 mg, 0.8 mg, 1 mg; INJ: various

Special Note

[strength clarification]

Info: dosage forms and doses expressed as folic acid; 1 mg PO folic acid = 1.67 mg Dietary Folate Equivalent (DFE) if taken w/ food or 2 mg DFE if taken on empty stomach

megaloblastic anemia, folate deficiency-associated

[1-11 mo]

Dose: 30-45 mcg PO/SC/IM/IV qd; Start: 15 mcg/kg/dose PO/SC/IM/IV qd until hematologic correction; Max: 50 mcg/day

[1-10 yo]

Dose: 0.1-0.4 mg PO qd; Start: 1 mg PO qd until hematologic correction; Max: 5 mg/day; Info: doses >1 mg/day rarely more effective; may use SC, IM, or IV route if PO malabsorption

[11 yo and older]

Dose: 0.4 mg PO qd; Start: 1 mg PO qd until hematologic correction; Max: 5 mg/day; Info: maint. dose for pregnant or breastfeeding pts is 0.8 mg PO qd; doses >1 mg/day rarely more effective; may use SC, IM, or IV route if PO malabsorption

dietary supplementation

[individualize dose]

Info: see Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin B9 (folic acid) table

neural tube defect prevention (off-label)

[0.4 mg PO qd]

Start: at least 1mo before conception; Info: for pts of childbearing potential; continue through 12 wk gestation; give 4 mg PO qd if high risk of neural tube defect

renal dosing

[not defined]

renal impairment: not defined

HD/PD: not defined

hepatic dosing

[not defined]