Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6
About
Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 belongs to the class of 'nutritional supplements', primarily used to treat nutritional deficiencies. It is used to treat and prevent vitamin B6 deficiency, folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency. Nutritional deficiency occurs when the body is unable to absorb or get enough nutrients from food. It could lead to various health problems, including defective bone growth, skin disorders, digestive issues, and dementia (memory loss).
Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 contains Folic acid, Vitamin B6, and Methylcobalamin. Folic acid helps in the formation of red blood cells and prevents DNA changes that may lead to cancer. It prevents and treats low blood levels of folate (folate deficiency) and high blood levels of amino acid, homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia). Pyridoxine/vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin involved in protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism and the formation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters. Methylcobalamin/vitamin B12 is a coenzyme form of vitamin B12. It regulates body functions, such as cell multiplication, blood formation, and protein synthesis.
Your doctor will decide the dosage based on your medical condition. Sometimes, Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 may have common side effects like nausea, stomach upset, diarrhoea, drowsiness, flushing, and numbness/tingling. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time.
Let your doctor know if you are using suggested, non-suggested drugs, and herbal products before starting Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. If you are known to be allergic to Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 or its inactive components, please inform your doctor. Please tell your doctor if you have malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food). If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, please consult your doctor before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6.
Uses of Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6
Medicinal Benefits
Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 treats nutritional deficiencies and contains Folic acid, Vitamin B6, and Methylcobalamin. Folic acid helps in the formation of red blood cells and prevents DNA changes that may lead to cancer. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) treats and prevents vitamin B6 deficiency, anaemia, peripheral neuropathy, seizures (fits), and hereditary disorders like hyperoxaluria and homocystinuria. It is involved in protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism and the creation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters. Methylcobalamin (Mecobalamin) treats Vitamin B12 deficiency, cyanide poisoning, and hyperhomocysteinemia. It regulates body functions, such as cell multiplication, blood formation, and protein synthesis.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Drowsiness
- Flushing
- Numbness/tingling
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if you have any blood disorders like pernicious anaemia before starting Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. Pyridoxine and folic acid in Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 are excreted into the breast milk. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. Excessive alcohol consumption reduces the absorption and increases the elimination of folic acid. Alcohol can also worsen the side effects like drowsiness and stomach upset. Hence, please avoid alcohol while using Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 should be used for children only if the doctor has suggested it.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 may interact with anti-cancer drugs (altretamine, cisplatin), fits medicines (phenytoin, phenobarbital), antibiotics (chloramphenicol), medicines treating Parkinson's disease (levodopa), drugs used to treat tumors (Fluorouracil), antibiotics (trimethoprim), stomach related drugs (sulfasalazine), and cholesterol-lowering drugs (cholestyramine).
Drug-Food Interaction: Excessive alcohol consumption reduces absorption and increases the elimination of folic acid. Alcohol can also worsen the side effects like drowsiness and stomach upset.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Use Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 with medical advice if you have malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food) and allergic reactions to medicines.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionExcessive alcohol consumption reduces the absorption and increases the elimination of folic acid. Hence, please avoid alcohol while using Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6.
Pregnancy
safe if suggestedFolic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 should be used during pregnancy only when suggested by your doctor. Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or planning to conceive before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6.
Breast Feeding
safe if suggestedPlease consult your doctor before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
cautionFolic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 may sometimes make you feel sleepy. Do not drive or operate machinery if you are not mentally alert and focused.
Liver
cautionTell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. Your dosage may be adjusted by your doctor based on your condition.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have a history of kidney diseases before taking Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6. Your dosage may be adjusted by your doctor based on your condition.
Children
cautionYour doctor will prescribe the dosage of Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 based on your child's age and weight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Try Vitamin B complex food sources like milk, cheese, eggs, liver and kidney, chicken, red meat, tuna, mackerel, salmon, shellfish, oysters, clams, dark green vegetables, such as spinach and kale, beets, avocados, potatoes, whole grains, cereals, kidney beans, black beans, and chickpea.
- Try folate-rich food sources like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leafy green vegetables, cabbage, kale, spring greens, spinach, peas, chickpeas, kidney beans, liver (avoid this during pregnancy), and breakfast cereals fortified with folic acid.
- Sprinkle sunflower seeds over your food, vegetables and salads.
- Include fruits like citrus, banana and watermelon in your diet.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid excess fatty foods.
Special Advise
- Clinical monitoring of folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6 levels through blood examinations is recommended.
- Let your doctor and the laboratory staff know if you are using Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 since Pyridoxine may interfere with laboratory tests like urine tests for urobilinogen.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Vitamin B6 deficiency: This is developed when your body doesn't have adequate levels of a water-soluble vitamin called Pyridoxine or Vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms include fatigue, skin rashes, cracked and sore lips, weak immune system, tiredness and low energy levels, tingling in hands and feet, and fits.
Vitamin B12 deficiency (cobalamin deficiency): When your body doesn't have adequate mineral levels called Vitamin B12, it leads to Vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, numbness, poor balance and memory trouble.
Folate deficiency: Folate deficiency occurs when your body won't have enough folate in your diet. Symptoms include fatigue, grey hair, mouth sores, tongue swelling and growth problems. Folate deficiency leads to anaemia.
FAQs
Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 is a vitamin supplement and consists of Folic acid, Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and Methylcobalamin (vitamin B12). When you lack these vitamins in your body, which cannot be recovered even with the food sources, Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 helps in normalising these deficient levels. Collectively, Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 treats nutritional deficiencies.
Vitamin B6 deficiency occurs when your body lacks adequate Pyridoxine levels. You can overcome this deficiency by including food sources rich in Pyridoxine, like milk, eggs, beef, pork, chicken or turkey, fish, peanuts, soya beans, wheat germ, oats and bananas. If your Vitamin B6 levels are still low, your doctor may prescribe supplements.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is caused when you don't have enough Methylcobalamin or Mecobalamin levels in your body. You can include natural Vitamin B12 sources like eggs, beef, liver, chicken, trout, salmon, tuna fish, clams, fortified breakfast cereal, low-fat milk, yoghurt, and cheese in your diet for treating the deficiency. If you still have low levels of B12, please consult your doctor about its supplements.
Pyridoxine in Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 may interfere with laboratory tests like urine tests for urobilinogen. Please make sure your doctor knows that you take Folic Acid+methylcobalamin+vitamin B6 before undergoing any blood and urine examinations.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and follow your usual dosage.
