Folic acid tablets are the man-made version of vitamin folate (also known as vitamin B9).
Folic acid is important for the production of red blood cells it is commonly used to;
- treat or prevent folate deficiency anaemia
- help your unborn baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop properly to avoid development problems (called neural tube defects) such as spina bifida
- help reduce side effects from methotrexate, a medicine used to treat severe arthritis, Crohn’s disease or psoriasis
Folate deficiency anaemia can be caused by a poor diet or a plant-based diet but more commonly intestinal problems that prevent the body from absorbing enough folate. All of these conditions can lead to Folate Deficiency anaemia which can be diagnosed by your doctor with a blood test, from here they will identify the cause. We have a blog post titled; ‘Tired all the time? 6 common anaemia symptoms’ which might help you recognise if you should seek further medical attention for anaemia.
Folic acid is often recommended to pregnant women or women who are trying to get pregnant as it can help prevent birth defects in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. A lot of pregnancy vitamin supplements will contain folic acid. We cannot prescribe folic acid tablets to pregnant women online from e-Surgery but this medication can be acquired from your doctor or GP.
There is some evidence to suggest that taking Folic acid tablets can help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, though there is not enough to prove this to be the case. We would recommend Folic acid tablets to be taken by those with a diagnosed Folate deficiency anaemia.
You can buy Folic acid tablets online or from your local pharmacy. If you choose to buy Folic Acid tablets online from e-Surgery we will require a short 2-minute health questionnaire to verify you are receiving the correct medication. Whenever you buy Folic acid tablets online or any other medication make sure to buy from reputable, registered pharmacies.
