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anon
where's winter?
Member since 11/05 2209 total posts
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spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
i have been taking prenate elite for a while with the only problem being the price. when i asked my dr. if i could switch to something else she stated to find out which generic equivalent my insurance company covers and they will call it in.
when i went back and asked the nurse practitioner if OTC vitamins were an acceptable substitute, she said i should stick with a prescription because they are more "regulated".
for the pharmacists - is this true?
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Posted 1/5/06 1:44 PM  |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
There is usually more folic acid in the prescription ones. OTC vitamins are just as regulated as prescription ones, but as a pharmacist, I wouldn't recommend them because of the amount of folic acid and maybe some other vitamins that will be lower amounts. Aren't your prenatal vitamins covered by your insurance? I take the Duet DHA and they are covered. If yours aren't just ask your pharmacist which ones have a generic equivalent which would be less expensive for you. These would have the same amount of all the vitamins as the brand vitamins. I'm sorry I can't help you choose a brand but I work in a hospital rather than in a store, so I just haven't been exposed to the different brands in a long time. I know that StuartNatal is one of the older vitamins, and has a generic available. Definately talk to the pharmacist where you go, and they should be able to help you choose a generic. I just wouldn't take the OTC ones.
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| Posted 1/5/06 2:08 PM |
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anon
where's winter?
Member since 11/05 2209 total posts
Name:
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
Posted by pharmcat2000
There is usually more folic acid in the prescription ones. OTC vitamins are just as regulated as prescription ones, but as a pharmacist, I wouldn't recommend them because of the amount of folic acid and maybe some other vitamins that will be lower amounts. Aren't your prenatal vitamins covered by your insurance? I take the Duet DHA and they are covered. If yours aren't just ask your pharmacist which ones have a generic equivalent which would be less expensive for you. These would have the same amount of all the vitamins as the brand vitamins. I'm sorry I can't help you choose a brand but I work in a hospital rather than in a store, so I just haven't been exposed to the different brands in a long time. I know that StuartNatal is one of the older vitamins, and has a generic available. Definately talk to the pharmacist where you go, and they should be able to help you choose a generic. I just wouldn't take the OTC ones.
mine are "covered", but it still comes out to almost $1 a pill with the copay...
even though i am taking the prenate elite which has 400 mg folic acid, i bought a 400 mg supplement and take both so i'm at 800. my dr. said the 400 was fine, but i personally felt more comfortable with the 800.
i know that with herbal remedies one never really knows what one is getting, but i was surprised to hear the nurse say that about vitamins.
i will definitely call up my insurance company to find out the generic equivalent, i've just been too lazy 
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| Posted 1/5/06 6:25 PM |
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groovypeg
:)
Member since 5/05 2423 total posts
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
fyi prenate elite has 1mg of folate. thats what i take. the cost is insane, but its the only one that does not bother me.
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| Posted 1/5/06 7:06 PM |
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anon
where's winter?
Member since 11/05 2209 total posts
Name:
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
Posted by skinner
fyi prenate elite has 1mg of folate. thats what i take. the cost is insane, but its the only one that does not bother me.
folate is broken down to folic acid and something else, right? are there different kinds because my folic acid states 400.
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| Posted 1/5/06 7:18 PM |
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groovypeg
:)
Member since 5/05 2423 total posts
Name:
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
it has 400mg of folic acid and it has 600 mg of metofolin which is active folate. at least thats what i read on their website. supposedly it is absorbed quicker into the body. i hope it is more than 400, b/c i have not been taking a supplement for more. i thought it had enough folate in it. whoops! pharmcat-any advice?
Message edited 1/5/2006 7:21:24 PM.
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| Posted 1/5/06 7:20 PM |
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anon
where's winter?
Member since 11/05 2209 total posts
Name:
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
Posted by skinner
it has 400mg of folic acid and it has 600 mg of metofolin which is active folate. at least thats what i read on their website. supposedly it is absorbed quicker into the body. i hope it is more than 400, b/c i have not been taking a supplement for more. i thought it had enough folate in it. whoops! pharmcat-any advice?
my dr. said 400 was enough, but i wanted to take 800 and one supposeldy can't take "too much" unless you are at risk for something (i forget what because it did not apply to me). i didn't take the 600 into account, but perhaps this is why the dr. said it was okay, although i had always just referenced the folic acid not folate in our conversations. hmmm, sounds l need to read up some more  ...
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| Posted 1/5/06 7:26 PM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
Posted by anon
i have been taking prenate elite for a while with the only problem being the price. when i asked my dr. if i could switch to something else she stated to find out which generic equivalent my insurance company covers and they will call it in.
when i went back and asked the nurse practitioner if OTC vitamins were an acceptable substitute, she said i should stick with a prescription because they are more "regulated".
for the pharmacists - is this true?
Not really. The only "real" difference is that prescription prenatals contain 1mg of Folic Acid and the OTC Prenatals contain 0.8mcg of folic acid.
ETA: I have taken both OTC and prescription. I feel the difference is minor. My new insurance won't even pay for prescription prenatals.
Message edited 1/5/2006 7:57:34 PM.
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| Posted 1/5/06 7:56 PM |
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pharmcat2000
Mom of 2 + 1
Member since 10/05 7395 total posts
Name:
Catherine
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Re: spin-off on prenatal vitamins - question for the pharmacists
Posted by skinner
it has 400mg of folic acid and it has 600 mg of metofolin which is active folate. at least thats what i read on their website. supposedly it is absorbed quicker into the body. i hope it is more than 400, b/c i have not been taking a supplement for more. i thought it had enough folate in it. whoops! pharmcat-any advice?
This is fine. The total of the 1mg is what you need regardless of the "form" the folate is in. All of the research on reduction of birth defects as a result of folic acid shows that a woman should get at least 800mcg per day. The prescription vits have 1000mcg (1mg), which is supposedly even better. The other thing to remember is that breads and cereals are fortified with folic acid so you get some from your food as well.
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| Posted 1/7/06 4:26 PM |
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