Folvite 5: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Folvite, Folvite 5 mg, Folvite 5 tablet, Folic acid 5 mg
Folvite 5 is a tablet containing 5 mg of folic acid, a B vitamin the body needs to make healthy red blood cells. It is used on a doctor's advice to treat folate deficiency anaemia and, in some higher-risk pregnancies, to help a baby's brain and spine develop. The cause of anaemia should be confirmed before it is taken.
- Active ingredient
- Folic acid 5 mg
- Type of medicine
- Vitamins and minerals
- Used for
- Anaemia, Vitamin deficiency
- Starts working in
- Folate levels begin to rise within days; blood counts usually improve over weeks, as a doctor monitors
- Effect lasts
- Taken regularly for the period the doctor advises; folic acid for folate deficiency is usually taken for about four months
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- The NHS advises avoiding or limiting alcohol, as it can affect how well folic acid works
- Pregnancy
- Used in pregnancy only on a doctor's advice; the right strength is for the doctor to decide
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Folvite 5 used for?
- How does Folvite 5 work?
- How to take Folvite 5
- Side effects of Folvite 5
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Folvite 5
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Folvite 5 used for?
Folvite 5 is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat folate deficiency anaemia and in some higher-risk pregnancies.
- Treating folate deficiency anaemia
- Helping a baby's brain, skull and spinal cord develop in early pregnancy in women a doctor judges to be at higher risk
- Preventing low folate in people on dialysis, and side effects of methotrexate, when a doctor advises it
How does Folvite 5 work?
The body needs folate to make new cells, including red blood cells. Folic acid replaces folate when there is too little, so the bone marrow can make normal red blood cells again. In pregnancy, folate is needed for the baby's brain and spine to form.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut and folic acid is absorbed into the blood.
It is converted and carried
The body converts folic acid into the active forms of folate and carries them to the cells that need them.
Cells can make DNA again
Folate is needed for making new cells. With enough folate, the bone marrow can make normal red blood cells.
Blood counts recover
Over weeks, the number of healthy red blood cells rises. A doctor may check blood tests to see how treatment is going.
The body clears the extra
Folate that is not needed is passed out in the urine.
How to take Folvite 5
Take Folvite 5 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and for how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day, unless your doctor says otherwise.
- It can be taken with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember, then carry on as usual. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
- Do not use it as a general vitamin. A 5 mg tablet is a higher strength than the usual pregnancy supplement, so use it only if a doctor has advised it.
- Your doctor may ask for blood tests, including vitamin B12, to find the cause of anaemia and check progress.
Side effects of Folvite 5
Most people have no problems with folic acid. Mild stomach effects are the most common.
Uncommon or mild
- Bloating
- Wind
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, throat or tongue, an itchy raised rash or difficulty breathing (anaphylaxis). Get medical help immediately
Who should be careful
Some people should not take Folvite 5, or need a doctor's check first.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia or pernicious anaemia: folic acid is not suitable on its own, as it can hide B12 deficiency while nerve damage continues
- Doses above 1 mg a day can mask vitamin B12 deficiency, which is why a doctor should find the cause of the anaemia
- Allergy to folic acid or any ingredient in the tablet
- Cancer or a coronary stent: the NHS lists these as reasons it may not suit you, so ask your doctor
- Pregnancy: use only the strength and duration your doctor advises
Medicines and things that interact with Folvite 5
Folvite 5 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.
- Epilepsy medicines such as phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone
- Antibiotics such as chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole
- Sulfasalazine, lithium and aspirin
- Alcohol: the NHS advises avoiding or limiting it, as it can affect how well folic acid works
If someone takes too much
A single extra tablet is unlikely to cause problems. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the pack with you.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place in the original strip, away from light and moisture and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Sold in India as a folic acid product. Single-ingredient folic acid is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. The 5 mg strength is higher than a usual supplement; whether it is labelled prescription-only must be confirmed from the pack.
Other brands with the same medicine
Folic acid 5 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same vitamin; check the label for the strength. A 5 mg tablet is not the same as a 400 microgram (0.4 mg) supplement.
Other strengths and forms
Folic acid is sold in different strengths, including lower-strength supplement tablets. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and differ between products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
What is Folvite 5 used for?
It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat folate deficiency anaemia and in some higher-risk pregnancies to help a baby's brain and spine develop. It can also be used with dialysis or methotrexate. A doctor decides whether it suits you.
Is Folvite 5 the same as the folic acid supplement for pregnancy?
Both contain folic acid, but 5 mg is a much higher strength than the usual 400 microgram pregnancy supplement. The NHS says only some higher-risk women need 5 mg, and only after speaking to a doctor. Do not switch on your own.
Is Folvite 5 a prescription medicine?
This depends on how the pack is labelled, so check the pack for the schedule. In any case, a doctor should decide whether you need the 5 mg strength, because the cause of anaemia has to be found first.
Can folic acid hide vitamin B12 deficiency?
Yes. Doses above 1 mg a day can hide the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, which can damage nerves if untreated. This is why a doctor finds the cause of anaemia before treatment.
How long do I need to take Folvite 5?
It depends on the reason. For folate deficiency anaemia, folic acid is usually taken for about four months. Your doctor decides the length, so do not stop or extend it on your own.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Folvite 5?
Take it when you remember, then carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
What is the difference between Folvite 5 and folic acid 5 mg?
Folvite is a brand name, and folic acid is the active ingredient. Other folic acid 5 mg tablets contain the same vitamin. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack.
Sources
- Folic acid: medicine used to keep your baby healthy in pregnancy and to treat folate deficiency anaemia. NHS (UK)
- B vitamins and folic acid. NHS (UK)
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia. NHS (UK)
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)