Folic Acid

[Meghan000]

My doctor said I should start taking folic acid leading up to when I want to try foe a baby. I've been taking it for about two weeks and have been so ill - has anyone else had this?

Ate you taking just folic acid or a combined pregnancy vitamin?

I am taking a folic acid tablet and also a vitamin d tablet but not in a combined tablet.

I took it while trying for our baby too but never had any issues!! I took the “Seven Seas- Trying to conceive” vitamins.
When you’re saying you’re ill OP, what kind of symptoms. Could be a silly question but could you already be pregnant? 🤔

Have you tried taking with food or at different times of day?

I'm getting stomach cramps and feeling sick. No not pregnant. It could be something else but just happen to start not long after starting the folic acid tablets.

I never had any issues. Perhaps you ate something that made you feel unwell?

@Meghan000 Could just be a coincidence I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️ If it doesn’t settle down in a couple of days maybe try a different brand? I have a lot of friends that were sick when taking Pregnacare but had no issues with other brands so could be a reaction to one of the bulking agents in the tablets 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not yet, I think that'll be the next thing I try. I've stopped taking for a few days and then will try again to see if it definitely is the tablets.

@Meghan000 I have the exact same issue as you with the folic acid 5mg. Really really intense stomach pain and cramps for the last five days. I've stopped taking it since yesterday but still had the cramps last night. How long did it take for the symptoms to go once you stopped the folic acid? Thanks

Apparently some people cant.. What's the word? Process? The folic acid in tablets and need a different form of it..

@PrivateParty so weird cos when I spoke to GP she was like it definitely can't be the folic acid. She said if it was then I would have got the symptoms from day 1 and not 10 days after...who knows !

Hmm I don't know much about it but maybe have a Google. Maybe if you can't process it, it's just taken a while to build up in your system to make you sick? Who knows! I'm sure someone else with experience of this will come along!

@PrivateParty omg that's exactly what I said to the doctor. That maybe the build up over those 10 days has caused this!

If you've been prescribed 5mg then I'd be really wary of not taking it as the consequences can be horrific.

But I'd be asking to have your folate levels checked and perhaps ask about having methylfolate prescribed instead, some people can't synthesise it.

@HeyFloof I know but the pain is horrendous that I ended up in A&E yesterday and I can't do three months of this if it means I'm in horrific pain and go to the loo nearly 10 times a day and can't look after my child. The pain is literally unbearable that I can barely move. I'll have to try and see if I can get a lower dosage over a longer period of time. It's annoying cos the doctor suggested I stop the folic acid but then didn't actually give me another option which is annoying. She just said to stop it for a week and then see if I feel better..

@Meghan000 try taking the tablet when you go to bed, literally as you settle down to sleep. I find they don't affect me then vs taking them during the day