{ "schema_version": 1, "kind": "condition", "id": "folate-deficiency-anaemia", "name": "Folate Deficiency Anaemia", "category": "chronic", "sources": "BSH Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cobalamin and Folate Disorders 2014 · Cyanocobalamin DailyMed label, SetID 41ac0dc1-0a71-4c69-8e25-ba838f5f16a3, dosage and administration", "review_status": "reviewed", "verified_against": "BSH Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cobalamin and Folate Disorders 2014 · Folate Deficiency Anaemia - disease-level clinical article (folate-deficiency-anaemia-clinical.txt)", "verified_date": "2026-08", "treatments": [ { "id": 742, "generic": "Folic acid", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 5.0, "adult_dose": "5 mg once daily", "adult_duration": "4 months (until anaemia resolved and tissue stores replenished)", "dose_source": "BSH Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cobalamin and Folate Disorders 2014", "rationale": "Corrects the folate deficiency responsible for this anaemia; it must not be started until the alternative vitamin deficiency noted in the cautions has been ruled out, because treating folate deficiency alone in that situation can precipitate irreversible neurological damage rather than prevent it.", "cautions": [ "CRITICAL SAFETY RULE: EXCLUDE VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY BEFORE STARTING FOLIC ACID.", "Administering folic acid alone to B12-deficient patients improves anaemia but precipitates or worsens irreversible subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.", "Identify and correct underlying cause (malnutrition, coeliac disease, malabsorption, antifolate drugs like methotrexate/phenytoin)." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": "Children <1 year: 500 mcg/kg once daily (max 5 mg); Children >=1 year: 5 mg once daily", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": [ { "label": "1 year and over", "age_min_months": 12, "age_max_months": 216, "dose_text": "5 mg once daily" } ], "peds_doses": null, "brands": [ { "trade_name": "FOLIC ACID (EL NILE) 5 MG 50 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EL NILE.", "price_egp": 26.25, "pack_count": 50, "unit_price": 0.53, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLIC ACID (MEMPHIS) 5 MG 30 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MEMPHIS", "price_egp": 15.75, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 0.53, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLICINAD 5 MG 50 TABS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "INAD PHARMA", "price_egp": 50.0, "pack_count": 50, "unit_price": 1.0, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLIC ACID (EIPICO) 5 MG 20 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 24.0, "pack_count": 20, "unit_price": 1.2, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLIC ACID (EL NILE) 5 MG 30 TAB.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EL NILE.", "price_egp": 36.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 1.2, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLIRAQ 5000 MCG 30 CAPSULES", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "HP PHARMA", "price_egp": 45.0, "pack_count": 30, "unit_price": 1.5, "strength_mg": 5.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "FOLIDDOX 400 MCG / 5 ML LIQUID 150 ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MADDOX PHARMA", "price_egp": 150.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 0.4, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "folate-deficiency-anaemia" }, { "id": 743, "generic": "Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": null, "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": null, "adult_duration": null, "dose_source": "Folate Deficiency Anaemia - disease-level clinical article (folate-deficiency-anaemia-clinical.txt)", "rationale": "Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.", "cautions": [ "RED FLAG - Vitamin B12 deficiency must be ruled out or co-treated prior to or alongside folic acid supplementation, to prevent exacerbation of neurological complications." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": null, "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [], "condition_id": "folate-deficiency-anaemia" }, { "id": 744, "generic": "Cyanocobalamin", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": true, "form": "injection", "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": "100 mcg by intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injection daily for six or seven days; the label then lengthens the interval step by step before settling at 100 mcg monthly for life", "adult_duration": null, "dose_source": "Cyanocobalamin DailyMed label, SetID 41ac0dc1-0a71-4c69-8e25-ba838f5f16a3, dosage and administration - verbatim: \"A dose of 100 mcg daily for six or seven days should be administered by intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injection.\"", "rationale": "Measure B12 before starting folic acid. Treating the folate alone repairs the blood count while the nerve damage of an untreated B12 deficiency keeps advancing, which is why this belongs on the folate card rather than only on its own.", "cautions": [ "Do not give this by the intravenous route - the label warns that almost all of the vitamin is then lost in the urine.", "Do not use in anyone sensitive to cobalt or to vitamin B12 itself.", "The label sets a tapering schedule between the loading course and monthly maintenance; follow it and recheck the blood count rather than jumping straight to monthly injections." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": "No paediatric treatment dose in the sources opened; the label gives only the daily dietary requirement for children.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [ { "trade_name": "CIDOLVEX 1MG/ML I.M AMP.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "CID", "price_egp": 5.2, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 1.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BETO-12 1MG/ML 2 AMP.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "AMOUN", "price_egp": 11.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 1.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "RUBIVAMIN 1000 MCG 5 AMPS.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MISR", "price_egp": 42.5, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 1.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BETOLVEX 1MG/ML 2 AMPS. I.M.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MINA PHARM", "price_egp": 64.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 1.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "BETOLVEX 1MG/ML 2 PRE-FILLED SYRINGE I.M.", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "MINA PHARM", "price_egp": 110.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 1.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "folate-deficiency-anaemia" } ] }