Folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin b9, is a vital supplement for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally folic acid can provide benefit in nearly every individual from birth onward, and it's specifically used to prevent many conditions.

There are a variety of options for patients to buy folic acid, on its own or in combination with other vitamins, above on this page. More can be found here.

At lower levels---800 mcg to 1000 mcg (0.8 mg to 1 mg) per day---there are no known side effects associated with folic acid. Side effects from higher doses---1000+ mcg (more than 1 mg) per day---are disputed; among those who claim them, most are mild and involve minor gastrointestinal upset. There are no fatalities associated with folic acid even at very large doses.

Folic Acid Uses

Though largely associated with healthy pregnancies---and rightfully so---folic acid is beneficial for nearly everyone. It aids many processes in the body, including protecting and repairing DNA and RNA. Patients buy folic acid to prevent:

• Birth defects
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Depression
• Certain cancers
• Age-related hearing loss
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Infertility in men and women

Note that, while folic acid is helpful in some types of cancers, in others it can be harmful as the vitamin promotes rapid cell division, common in many cancers. There's even a medication that inhibits folic acid metabolism in the body, called methotrexate, which may be prescribed in treating cancer. Cancer patients should not buy folic acid without first getting approval from a doctor.

In pregnancy folic acid is used to promote proper development of the neural tube, which begins forming in the 3rd week of pregnancy and eventually develops into the spinal column and brain. In patients who are deficient in folic acid the neural tube may not close correctly, causing neural tube defects (NTDs) that range from painful and unsightly to lethal within hours of birth.

More common NTDs include:

• Spina bifida
• Anencephaly
• Hydranencephaly
• Encephalocele
• Iniencephaly

Note that folate deficiency is not the only cause of NTDs, but it is among the more common.

Pregnant women who buy folic acid supplements see a reduction of around 30% to 70% of NTDs, and there's also around a 30% reduction in congenital heart defects. Other effects on children exposed to adequate levels of folic acid in the womb are less clear; some studies found no difference in physical or cognitive development, while others found there is some improvement, particularly in cognitive areas.

Taking Folic Acid

Most medical authorities recommend women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant buy folic acid supplements, though there is some variety in duration. One year to three months prior to trying to conceive is common, and, once pregnant, through the first trimester is standard. Some recommend continuing supplementation through the entire pregnancy and until finished breastfeeding.

Dosing is somewhat difficult to quantify as there's so many opinions. As a rough guideline:

• Patients with a good diet relatively high in folic acid are often advised to take 400 mcg (0.4 mg) per day.
• Those with a poor diet in relation to folic acid may be advised to take up to 4 mg per day.
• Individuals who have a history of pregnancy with NTD complications may be advised to take more than 4 mg per day, though this is relatively unusual.
• Women who are breastfeeding are usually advised to take 400 to 500 mcg (0.4 to 0.5 mg) per day, though it might be as high as 1000 mcg (1 mg) per day in some cases.

Those who buy folic acid to prevent other conditions will need to do research or consult a doctor; use is quite variable and there are many personal factors to take into account. It is very unlikely to be harmful at lower doses, and most likely harmless even at higher doses.

Many products on this page and here consist of formulas in which dosing and administration is already determined, which are likely suitable for the majority of patients.

How to Buy Folic Acid from Kiwi Drug

Kiwi Drug has been online since 2005 and is backed by an international network of brick & mortar pharmacies that have been operating for decades longer. We offer a number of assurances and conveniences to ensure clients have easy, affordable, and safe access to vital medications:

• We are subject to regulatory oversight like our real-world counterparts.
• Our online storefront saves us tremendous overhead, allowing us to offer medications at much lower prices without cutting quality.
• Our fully-licensed online doctor is authorized to issue prescriptions for many medications.
• We utilize state-of-the-art security software to ensure your personal data is safe.
• We will never share your information with any third party.

A prescription is needed to buy folic acid in some formulas. If you don't have one, you may want to take advantage of our online doctor services---simply answer the questions provided during checkout.

Patients who already have a prescription to buy folic acid will be given options to transfer it to us after completing checkout.

We're always here to help if you have any questions or need a hand with your order.