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Drug information
05/01/18

Folic acid Colonis 1mg/ml oral solution

1. For the prophylaxis of neural tube defects in case of a positive history of previous neural tube defects (NTD). 2. For the prophylaxis of NTDs with no previous history of foetal neural tube defect and no other predisposing factors 3. For the treatment of folate deficiency: a. Folate deficient megaloblastic anaemia (in pregnancy, associated with alcoholism, drug intake such as anticonvulsants). For the prevention of megaloblastic anaemia, the cobalamin status should be established before initiation of folic acid therapy. b. Impaired utilization of folate i.e. use of concomitant drugs, in liver disease, inadequate intake (e.g. alcoholism, malnutrition etc.) c. Increased excretion of folate (e.g. alcoholism, haemolytic states). 4. Folate deficiency / megaloblastic anaemia associated with haemolytic anaemia (e.g. sickle cell anaemia) 5. Treatment of folate deficiency in malabsorption syndromes (parenteral administration of folic acid may need to be considered if oral treatment is not effective) (e.g.: tropical sprue. tropical sprue responds to folate supplements in the early stages of the disease but cobalamin status must also be checked, particularly later; coeliac disease in which case the necessity of supplementation with folate ceases once a gluten free diet is introduced; non-tropical sprue; in congenital folate malabsorption (oral treatment may not be effective and parental folate may therefore be required). Cobalamin status needs to be established in all megaloblastic states (not only in pregnancy).