Folic Acid 5w3610

Drug Name

Dosage & Route

Action

Indication

FOLIC ACID (VITAMIN B9, PTEROYLGLUTAMI C ACID) (fol'ic)

Therapeutic Adult: PO/IM/SC/IV 1 mg/d Child: PO/IM/SC/IV 1 mg/d

Vitamin B complex essential for nucleoprotein synthesis and maintenance of normal erythropoiesis. Acts against folic acid deficiency that impairs thymidylate synthesis and results in production of defective DNA that leads to megaloblast formation and arrest of bone marrow maturation.

Folate deficiency, macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemias associated with malabsorption syndromes, alcoholism, primary liver disease, inadequate dietary intake, pregnancy, infancy, and childhood.

Classifications Vitamin B9

Maintenance Adult: PO/IM/SC/IV 0.4 mg/d Child: PO/IM/SC/IV <4 y, 0.3 mg/d; >4 y, 0.4 mg/d Infant: PO/IM/SC/IV 0.1 mg/d

Adverse Effects

Reportedly nontoxic. Slight flushing and feeling of warmth following IV istration.

Contraindication

Folic acidalone for pernicious anemia or other vitamin B12 deficiency states; normocytic, refractory, aplastic, or undiagnosed anemia.

Nursing Responsibility

Assessment & Drug Effects •

• •

Obtain a careful history of dietary intake and drug and alcohol usage prior to start of therapy. Drugs reported to cause folate deficiency include oral contraceptives, alcohol, barbiturates, methotrexate, phenytoin, primidone, and trimethoprim. Folate deficiency may also result from renal dialysis. Keep physician informed of patient's response to therapy. Monitor patients on phenytoin for subtherapeutic plasma levels.