Alfolic 5mg Tablet is a folic acid supplement. It is used to treat a type of anemia where you have too few red blood cells because you have too little folic acid in your body. Folic acid is needed to produce the red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body.

Alfolic 5mg Tablet may be taken with or without food. Take it regularly and at the same time each day to get maximum benefits. Take it as a whole, do not break, chew, or crush them. Your doctor will decide the doses you need depending on the severity of your condition. It may help to eat a well-balanced diet that has enough folic acid, iron, vitamins, and minerals.

This medicine is generally well tolerated with little or no side effects. However, it may cause abdominal distension, flatulence, nausea, and weight loss in some people. While on treatment with this medicine, you may need to take blood tests to check your blood cells and iron levels, monitor your progress, and check for side effects.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma or other allergies, or high blood pressure. Let your doctor also know all the other medicines you are taking. It may be advisable to limit alcohol while on treatment with this medicine.

Uses of Alfolic Tablet

Iron deficiency anemia
Treatment of Anemia due to folic acid deficiency
Anemia due to chronic kidney disease

Benefits of Alfolic Tablet

In Treatment of Anemia due to folic acid deficiency

Anemia is a condition where your body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body. If you do not get enough folic acid from the foods you eat (because of poor nutrition or poor absorption of the mineral), your body will produce fewer red blood cells and can cause anemia. Alfolic 5mg Tablet is a supplement of folic acid. It is used to treat or prevent low levels of folate in the body. Folate plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells. It can boost your levels of red blood cells and reduce the symptoms of anemia such as tiredness and weakness. Take it in the exact dose and duration as prescribed by your doctor for maximum benefits.

Side effects of Alfolic Tablet

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Alfolic

Abdominal distension
Flatulence
Nausea
Weight loss

How to use Alfolic Tablet

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Alfolic 5mg Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

How Alfolic Tablet works

Alfolic 5mg Tablet is a form of vitamin B. It plays a vital role in the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. It is also essential in pregnancy due to its role in the development of the unborn baby's brain and spinal cord.

Safety advice

Alcohol

CAUTION

Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Alfolic 5mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Alfolic 5mg Tablet is safe to use during pregnancy. Most studies have shown low or no risk to the developing baby.

Breast feeding

SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Alfolic 5mg Tablet is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby.

Driving

SAFE

Alfolic 5mg Tablet does not usually affect your ability to drive.

Kidney

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

There is limited information available on the use of Alfolic 5mg Tablet in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.

Liver

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

There is limited information available on the use of Alfolic 5mg Tablet in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

What if you forget to take Alfolic Tablet?

If you miss a dose of Alfolic 5mg Tablet, please consult your doctor.

All substitutes

For informational purposes only. Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.

Alfolic 5mg Tablet

₹1.29/Tablet

Folvite 5mg Tablet

Pfizer Ltd

₹1.66/tablet

29% costlier

Folera Tablet

Maneesh Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹1.56/tablet

21% costlier

Vitfol 5mg Tablet

Moxy Laboratories Pvt Ltd

₹1/tablet

22% cheaper

Folican Tablet

Med Manor Organics Pvt Ltd

₹1.5/tablet

16% costlier

Foly-Act Tablet

Morepen Laboratories Ltd

₹1.38/tablet

7% costlier

View all substitutes

Quick tips

Alfolic 5mg Tablet is used for the treatment of folic acid deficiency.
It is also taken before and during pregnancy to decrease the risk of defects in the neural tube, which forms the spinal cord in the baby.
Inform your doctor if you have a history of seizures as you may need a higher dose of the seizure medicines than what you normally take.

Fact Box

Chemical Class

Glutamic Acid Derivatives

Habit Forming

Therapeutic Class

BLOOD RELATED

Action Class

Hemopoietic Agents

Interaction with drugs

Taking Alfolic with any of the following medicines can modify the effect of either of them and cause some undesirable side effects

Capecitabine (Oral Route) Severe

Concurrent use may cause fatal Capecitabine poisoning. Do not take folic acid supplements without medical supervision.

Phenytoin (Oral Route) Moderate

Folic Acid may reduce the efficacy of Phenytoin. Folic Acid may reduce blood levels of Phenytoin. If concurrent use is essential, your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust ... More

Phenobarbitone (Oral Route) Moderate

Concurrent use may increase the risk of seizures. Your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust the doses as per the observations.

Carbamazepine (Oral Route) Moderate

Folic Acid may reduce blood levels of Carbamazepine. Your doctor may monitor your treatment and adjust the doses as per the observations.

Methotrexate (Oral Route) Moderate

Folic Acid may reduce adverse effects of Methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Do not consume Methotrexate with Folic Acid. If concurrent use is essent... More

View all drug interactions

Patient concerns

Iron deficiency anemia, typhoid

Dr. Pushkar Mani

Physician

What medicine u taking for thatSince when u have these problem

H.B is just 7 gram not improving iron not suitable

Dr. Gopal Bansilal Samdani

Paediatrics

Please consult Dr. will take detail history and will examine your child in detail. may ask you for blood test. All information will be used to determine exact underlying cause of problem. Depending upon cause will prescribe you treatment.Just to give you idea i am giving examples of diseases where anemia is presentCongenital dyserythropoietic anemia Diamond-Blackfan anemia G-6-PD deficiency Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), congenital or acquired Iron refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) Nutritional iron deficiency Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria Pure red cell aplasia Rheumatoid arthritis Sideroblastic anemia Unstable hemoglobinopathies Hookworm infection Hypothyroidism Myelodysplastic syndrome Myelofibrosis Systemic lupus erythematosus Thalassemia Thalassemia intermedia Pyruvate kinase deficiency

Can you tell me the report in detail please

Dr. Ila Jain Khandelwal

Pathology

Dear Sir Greetings from 1mg. Most of the reports which you have shared are normal, excpet your hemoglobin is low which can be due to iron deficiency anemia. For this, I suggest you should have a diet rich in iron like green leafy vegetables, fruits etc. Your urea and creatinine are also marginally high, which might be due to high proteinaceous diet before the test or some kidney problem.

FAQs

Is it ok to take Alfolic 5mg Tablet when not pregnant?

Usually, folic acid requirements are met from the diet and therefore additional supplements are not required. In general, Alfolic 5mg Tablet is recommended only when you have a deficiency of folic acid. However, Alfolic 5mg Tablet is advised to women who are pregnant and who want to conceive. The medicine should be taken at least 4 weeks before pregnancy and should continue its use up to 3 months of pregnancy. Consult your doctor if not sure.

Can Alfolic 5mg Tablet cause weight gain?

Animal studies on Alfolic 5mg Tablet suggest that taking the medicine in excess along with a high-fat diet may lead to weight gain and fat accumulation. But this weight gain was not evident when taken along with a normal or low-fat diet, even with excess Alfolic 5mg Tablet. In humans, similar studies have not been conducted and therefore knowledge regarding weight gain is lacking. Therefore, if you are on Alfolic 5mg Tablet eat a low-fat meal to be on the safer side.

How long does Alfolic 5mg Tablet take to work?

Alfolic 5mg Tablet usually starts working within a few hours of taking it. If you are taking it for iron deficiency anemia, you may start feeling better after a few weeks of taking it. In case you are taking it during pregnancy, you may not notice any difference but this does not mean that the dose is not working. Continue taking Alfolic 5mg Tablet for the duration recommended by your doctor.

Why should women start taking Alfolic 5mg Tablet before they become pregnant?

Maintaining the right level of folic acid in the body before getting pregnant reduces the risk of developing neural tube defects in the baby. The neural tube defect, in most cases, is caused if the structure (neural tube) from which the central nervous system develops (brain and spinal cord) in a baby does not form or is only partially closed. full closure of the neural tube occurs during the end of the fourth week of pregnancy. Folic acid helps in the formation of neural tubes. Therefore, to prevent this defect women should start Alfolic 5mg Tablet before four weeks of pregnancy.

Can I breastfeed while taking Alfolic 5mg Tablet?

Yes, you can breastfeed while taking Alfolic 5mg Tablet as it is not harmful to the baby. Alfolic 5mg Tablet contains folic acid which is naturally found in breast milk. Though its initial levels in breast milk are low, it rises eventually. Since it is actively secreted in breast milk, the mother may take Alfolic 5mg Tablet every day to maintain the required levels. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions related to nutrient supplementation in breastfeeding.

When should I take Alfolic 5mg Tablet, in the morning or at night?

You can take Alfolic 5mg Tablet any time of the day, but try to take it at the same time each day. This will help you remember to take it. Take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medicine should be swallowed as a whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, cut or crush the medicine.

Can Alfolic 5mg Tablet make you sick?

Generally, Alfolic 5mg Tablet is well tolerated. However, some people may experience nausea (feeling sick), loss of appetite, bloating, and excessive passing of gas. The medicine may also worsen the symptoms of any coexisting vitamin B12 deficiency. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor but do not stop taking Alfolic 5mg Tablet.

How long do I need to take Alfolic 5mg Tablet?

The duration of treatment with Alfolic 5mg Tablet depends on the reason you are taking it for. If you are planning your pregnancy, you may start taking it 4 weeks before pregnancy and continue up to the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you are taking it for folic acid deficiency then you may have to take it for 4 months or longer (if your deficiency does not subside). If you are taking it to reduce the side effects of methotrexate then you may need to take it for as long as you are taking methotrexate. Consult your prescribing physician to know the exact duration of your therapy.

Show less

Related lab tests

Complete Blood Count

Ferritin

Iron Serum

Peripheral Smear Examination

Total Iron Binding Capacity

Transferrin Saturation

Want to share the information?

Disclaimer:

Tata 1mg's sole intention is to ensure that its consumers get information that is expert-reviewed, accurate and trustworthy. However, the information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. This may not cover everything about particular health conditions, lab tests, medicines, all possible side effects, drug interactions, warnings, alerts, etc. Please consult your doctor and discuss all your queries related to any disease or medicine. We intend to support, not replace, the doctor-patient relationship.

References

Masters SB. Agents Used in Anemias; Hematopoetic Growth Factors. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 576-78.
Kaushansky K, Kipps TJ. Hematopoietic Agents: Growth Factors, Minerals, and Vitamins. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1092-96.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 582-90.
Folic acid. Wrexham, Wales: Wockhardt UK Ltd.; 2010 [revised 04 Mar. 2018]. [Accessed 23 Jan. 2019] (online) Available from:
Drugs.com. Folic Acid. [Accessed 07 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Chaves RG, Lamounier JA. Breastfeeding and maternal medications. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2004;80(5 Suppl):S189-S198. [Accessed 07 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 07 Apr. 2019] (online) Available from:

Marketer details

Name: Altak Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd

Address: B-37A, NIRALA NAGAR,LUCKNOW-226020 LUCKNOW-226020 Lucknow UP 000000 IN

Country of origin: India

The list of available options shown with the same composition has been prepared upon the advice of registered medical practitioners, pharmacists affiliated with TATA 1MG. TATA 1MG does not promote any pharmaceutical product of any particular company, and all recommendations are based on the medical opinion, advisories from specialist medical and pharmaceutical professionals.