Megafol

Generic Name: Folic acid
Product Name: Megafol

Indication of Megafol

Folic acid is used in the following situations:

• Treatment of anaemia due to folate deficiency
• Prevention of folate deficiency during pregnancy and subsequently preventing neural tube defects in the foetus
• Prevention of folate deficiency in patients undergoing chronic haemolysis and renal dialysis
• To reduce the risk of toxicity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis that are being treated with methotrexate

Your doctor will be able to advise if this product is suitable for you. Consult your doctor before taking any medication or supplement.

Action of Megafol

Folic acid is a B group vitamin that is required for DNA synthesis, amino acid metabolism and the formation of red blood cells Folic acid is involved in the maturation of all rapidly proliferating tissues and is particularly important during neural tube closure in the developing foetus.

Dose advice of Megafol

Dose information

• Treatment of folate deficiency Adults 5 mg orally once a day for at least 4 months
• Children 0.5 mg per kg orally once a day for at least 4 months
• The maximum recommended dose is m 5 mg once daily
• Prevention of folate deficiency in pregnancy:
  • In low risk women who have no family history of neural tube defects and are not on antiepileptic medications 500 micrograms orally is given once daily prior to conception and should be continued for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.
  • In high risk women who have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect, who have a close family history of neural tube defects or who are taking antiepileptic medications, 5 mg orally is given once daily prior to conception and should be continued for the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.
• Prevention of folate deficiency in chronic haemolysis and renal dialysis:
  • 5 mg orally with dosing ranging form once a day to once a week
  • Alternatively 500 micrograms orally may be given after dialysis.
• Prevention of methotrexate toxicity: 1-5 mg orally once a day.

Always read the label. If you have any queries about the correct way to use this product, please ask your doctor. Individual results may vary.

Precautions

• Intravenous folic acid should be used only when oral administration is not possible

Pregnancy and lactation

Folic acid is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If you have any concerns, please speak with your doctor.

Schedule of Megafol

• 500 microgram: Unscheduled;
• 5 mg: S2

Please note that the Product Information including information such as what a product should be used for, how it works, the dosage and relevant side effects is created by the company who makes the product. For registered medicines, the Product Information is carefully validated by the relevant Australian health authority, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). However, for complementary medicines the Product Information is NOT routinely checked by the TGA. Therefore it is important that you do NOT take any complementary medicine without first speaking with your doctor.