Patient leaflet - Folic Acid 5 mg tablets
1. What Folic Acid Tablets are and what they are used for
The name of your medicine is Folic Acid Tablets, which contains folic acid, a vitamin essential in the production and maintenance of new cells.
Folic acid is a vitamin used to prevent or treat a deficiency (lack of) folic acid in the body. Folic Acid Tablets are used in the treatment and prevention of certain types of anaemia (low red blood cells), e.g. megaloblastic anaemia or pernicious anaemia caused by folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency. Adequate amounts of vitamin B12 (Hydroxocobalamin) need to be given along with folic acid. Folic Acid Tablets are also used when there is deficiency of folic acid, for example when "phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone" a drug used for epilepsy (fits) is taken. Folic Acid Tablets can also be given to some women before and during pregnancy to prevent spina bifida (an abnormality of the spine) in babies, which can be caused by deficiency of this vitamin.
2. What you need to know before you take Folic Acid Tablets
Do not take Folic Acid Tablets if you:
- are allergic (hypersensitive) to Folic acid or any other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
are suffering from cobalamin deficiency (condition of low blood and tissue levels of vitamin B12) or
pernicious anaemia (a form of anaemia caused by lack of vitamin B12) or another condition caused by vitamin B12 deficiency
- are suffering from malignant (cancerous) disease.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Folic Acid Tablets if:
- you are receiving treatment for folate-dependent tumor
are pregnant
you suffer from pernicious anaemia (a disorder preventing the absorption of vitamin B12) or could
be suffering from a lack of vitamin B12.
Other medicines and Folic Acid Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription:
In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
Antiepileptics (medicines used to treat epilepsy and fits) such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, sodium
valproate, carbamazepine or primidone. Your doctor may need to change the amount of antiepileptic medicine you are taking, because Folic Acid Tablets may reduce the effect of these medicines
- Triamterene, a diuretic used to treat raised blood pressure and oedema
- Aspirin for pain relief or to thin your blood
- Antibacterials (to treat infections) such as trimethoprim, chloramphenicol and co-trimoxazole.
Alcohol may reduce folic acid levels
- If you need a general anaesthetic make sure your doctor or dentist is aware you are taking Folic acid
Sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory drug used for the treatment of arthritis or inflammatory
bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
- Methotrexate, used to treat certain types of cancer.
- Lithium for mental health problems
- A gas and air mixture to put you to sleep for an operation or to relieve pain while you are awake Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
This medicine can be taken in pregnancy to treat anaemia. If you are breast-feeding please speak with your doctor before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine should not affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
3. How to take Folic Acid Tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
The recommended doses are as follows:
Adults and children 1 year and over:
To treat folate deficient megaloblastic anaemia:
5 mg daily for 4 months, which may be increased up to a maximum of 15 mg a day. To treat drug induced folate deficiency:
5 mg daily.
To prevent folate deficiency caused by long-term red blood cell damage or kidney dialysis:
5 mg every 1-7 days.
Children less than 1 year age:
500 micrograms per kilogram of body weight daily.
Prevention of spina bifida:
One tablet a day, starting before conception and continuing for the first 3 months of pregnancy. If you take more Folic Acid Tablets than you should
If you (or anybody else, including a child), takes more Folic Acid Tablets than you should, it is unlikely that this medicine will cause any harm. If you are at all concerned contact your doctor. Take your medicine and this leaflet with you.
If you forget to take Folic Acid Tablets
If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take the missed dose at all.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects, even if they get worse or you notice any not listed:
Blood and lymphatic system disorder: Folic acid may worsen the symptoms of co-existing vitamin B12 deficiency, without investigation should not be used to treat anaemia.
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
- Allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) e.g. Itchy/red skin, rash
- Stomach and gut: loss of appetite (anorexia), feeling sick, a bloated feeling, wind.
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction) - swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat or difficulty breathing or swallowing, shock (cold sweaty skin, weak pulse, dry mouth, dilated pupils). Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the yellow card scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Folic Acid Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the box. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container/package. Protect from light. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The active substance is folic acid. Each tablet contains 5 mg folic acid.
The other ingredients are calcium hydrogen phosphate, starch, sodium lauryl sulphate, magnesium stearate.
What Folic Acid Tablets look like and contents of the pack
The tablets are plain yellow biconvex tablets.
Folic Acid Tablets are available in blister packs of 28 tablets or securitainers (plastic bottles) containing 50, 100, 250, 1000 or 5000 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer:
Relonchem Limited, Cheshire House, Gorsey Lane, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 0RP, UK. Product Licence Number: PL 20395/0133
This leaflet was last revised in April 2026.
Code No.: GO/DRUGS/1025
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PRODUCT NAME
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Folic Acid 5 mg Tablets
PL 20395-0133
PIL
160 x 260 mm
5 mg
28s
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