- Folate deficiency due to inadequate intake or absorption; or increased utilization or excretion
- Treatment of megoblastic and macrocytic anemias due to folate deficiency
- Store at room temperature
- Available as 5 mg/mL solution
- Protect from light and heat
- Solutions are clear yellow to orange yellow in colour
- Vial stable for 3 days at room temperature once punctured
- Solutions Compatible: dextrose solutions up to D20W, NS
- Additives/Above Cassette Compatible: no information
- Y-site Compatible: TPN (amino acids/dextrose), KCl
- Incompatible: oxidizing and reducing agents, heavy metal ions, morphine
(For approved routes of administration by nursing personnel, refer to Policy for the Administration of Intravenous Medications.)
SC | YES |
IM | YES, deep into muscle |
IV Direct |
YES |
IV Intermittent Infusion | YES Usual dilution: 0.1 mg/mL Infusion time: 20 minutes |
IV Continuous Infusion | YES, in TPN |
(For neonatal dosages, refer to Neonatal IV Drug Manual.)
- Give orally, except in severe intestinal malabsorption or when oral administration is not feasible
Folic Acid deficiency:
Infants:
- 15 mcg/kg/dose daily or 50 mcg/day SC/IM/IV
Children 1-10 years:
- Initial: 1 mg/day SC/IM/IV
- Maintenance: 0.1-0.4 mg/day
Children > 11 and Adults:
- Initial: 1 mg/day SC/IM/IV
- Maintenance: 0.5 mg/day
- Allergic reactions (rare): erythema, rash, itching, general malaise, bronchospasm
- Will not prevent neurologic abnormalities due to vitamin B12 deficiency, although the hematological effects may be masked.
- May mask the diagnosis of pernicious anemia
- Contraindicated in pernicious, aplastic and normocytic anemias
- IV and oral doses are equivalent on a mg per mg basis
- May decrease serum phenytoin concentrations
- Injectable may be given orally