DRUG NAME MECHANISM INDICATION CONTRAINDICATION SIDE NURSING CONSIDERATION

OF ACTION EFFECTS/ADVERSE
EFFECTS
GENERIC NAME Stimulates Treatment of Contraindications: Allergic Baseline assessment
folic acid production of megaloblastic Hypersensitivity to folic hypersensitivity occurs Pernicious anemia should be ruled out with
platelets, RBCs, and macrocytic acid. Cautions: Anemias rarely with parenteral Schilling test and vitamin B12 blood
WBCs in folate anemias due to (aplastic, form. Oral folic acid is level before initiating therapy (may produce
deficiency folate normocytic, pernicious, nontoxic. irreversible neurologic damage).
anemia. deficiency. refractory) when anemia Resistance to treatment may occur if
Therapeutic Treatment of present with vitamin decreased hematopoiesis, alcoholism,
Effect: Essential anemias due to B12 antimetabolic drugs, deficiency of vitamin B6
for nucleoprotein folate deficiency deficiency. , B12
synthesis, in pregnant , C, E is evident.
maintenance of women. Intervention/evaluation
normal Folate Assess for therapeutic improvement:
erythropoiesis. supplementation improved sense of well-being, relief from
during iron deficiency symptoms (fatigue, shortness
periconceptual of breath, sore tongue, headache,
period decreases pallor).
risk of neural Patient/family teaching
tube defects. • Eat foods rich in folic acid, including fruits,
vegetables, organ meats.