Folic acid

CLINICAL USE

Folate-deficient megaloblastic anaemia Supplement in

  • HD                     : patients

    DOSE IN NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION

    5 mg daily for 4 months, then weekly according to responseMaintenance: 5 mg every 1–7 days

    PHARMACOKINETICS

  • Molecular weight                           :441.4
  • %Protein binding                           :70
  • %Excreted unchanged in urine     : Varies with daily dose
  • Volume of distribution (L/kg)       :No data
  • half-life – normal/ESRD (hrs)      :2.5/–

    DOSE IN RENAL IMPAIRMENT

    GFR (mL/MIN)

  • 20 to 50     : Dose as in normal renal function
  • 10 to 20     : Dose as in normal renal function
  • <10           : Dose as in normal renal function

    DOSE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPIES

  • CAPD                :Dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
  • HD                     :Dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
  • HDF/high flux   :Dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
  • CAV/VVHD      :Dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function

    IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS

    Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs

  • Anti-epileptics: reduces phenytoin, primidone and phenobarbital levels

    ADMINISTRATION

    Reconstition

    Route

    Oral

    Rate of Administration

    Comments

    OTHER INFORMATION

    If seriously folate deficient, give 10 mg/day for 1 month, then 5 mg/dayDoses up to 15 mg daily have been used in cases of malabsorptionMost nutritionists recommend 0.5–1 mg folic acid daily for patients on

  • HD                     : or
  • CAPD
  • ; may accumulate in uraemic patientsDosage used by dialysis units varies from 5 mg daily to 5 mg once weekly.

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