However there are several benefits to taking a prescription prenatal vitamin instead of an over-the-counter generic. You should be aware of the differences so you can make an informed decision.
Put simply prenatal vitamins are vitamins that contain more folate and iron than your standard multivitamin since these nutrients are especially important to the growth of the developing fetus.
Prescription vs otc prenatal vitamins. It might simply be convenience considering most over-the-counter OTC prenatal vitamins have benefits beyond their prescription counterparts. Compared with prescription most OTC prenatals have three to four times the amount of many vitamins and minerals while staying within safe dosage limits. Achieving these higher micronutrient intakes however often requires one to two capsules up to three.
When choosing prescription or OTC prenatal vitamins consider. Does your prenatal vitamin contain iron in the right form so it does not cause stomach upset nausea or. Docosahexaenoic acid DHA is an omega-3 essential fatty acid EFA that serves as a primary building block for.
When it comes to prenatal vitamins many women choose the lowest-cost option they can purchase over the counter. However there are several benefits to taking a prescription prenatal vitamin instead of an over-the-counter generic. Below are the unique benefits that products in the Prenate Vitamin Family provide and that make them different from over-the- counter prenatal.
In short- there doesnt have to be a difference between prescription and over the counter prenatal vitamins. Manufacturers are allowed to sell everything contained in a prenatal vitamin over the counter. However there are some advantages and disadvantages of buying your vitamins over the counter.
You should be aware of the differences so you can make an informed decision. So the big difference usually between prescription vs. OTC vitamins is the amount of folic acid.
400 to 600mcg is generally what youll see in an OTC version while the prescription pills sometimes contain up to 1000mcg. Prescription prenatal vitamins often contain up to 1000 micrograms of folic acid which is the most you should take per day but OTC versions usually contain no more than 800 micrograms. This is still more than the minimum recommended of 600 micrograms per day.
These vitamins may also have a higher iron content with 30 milligrams or more. The higher iron can make you constipated or upset. Put simply prenatal vitamins are vitamins that contain more folate and iron than your standard multivitamin since these nutrients are especially important to the growth of the developing fetus.
What might be news to some women however is that there are. Prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated for you and your babys nutritional needs during your pregnancy. More of certain vitamins and minerals and less of others.
I would go with pharmaceutical grade vitamins. Vitamins are not regulated by the FDA. That means that almost all OTC vitamins are not tested by batch.
What it says is in the bottle is not necessarily in every pill which is pretty scary. The prescription vitamins are more tightly regulated. The OTC vitamins are classified as supplements.
Until recently there were no standards for their manufacture. The requirements are being phased in starting this summer. However if you picked a good brand you would be fine.
I would recommend a USP certified OTC prenatal vitamin. Prescription prenatals typically contain more folic acid than the over-the-counter varieties says Wright. But not all moms need the extra dose.
Another big reason that OTC vitamins are not the same as medical grade vitamins is the concentrations found in the product. For example Motrin Ibuprofen used to be a prescription drug only and was 800 mg per pill. When it became available OTC they lowered the dose to 200 mg.
Vitamins are often the same with much lower doses being the norm in OTC products. For example in fish oil pills OTC. OTC vitamin-D is relatively inexpensive and a months supply may even cost less than your insurance co-pay for the prescription version.
D-3 One difference between prescription and OTC vitamin D is that the prescription version is only available as D-2 or ergocalciferol. Prenatal Vitamins Prescription vs. Price MD talks about prenatal v.
Recommended prenatal vitamin Zahler makes a high quality prenatal vitamin that has the active form of folate plus omega 3s and DHA. This is the prenatal vitamin I take and the one I recommend. Zahler was very generous and gave me a promo code I can share with you so you can save 25 off when you buy a month supply on Amazon.
Im reading about prenatal vitamins. Im 8 weeks pg and have been taking over the counter prenatal vitamins. I told a friend this and she was surpirised the doc didnt prescribe me vitamins.
My doc never mentiined it. Should i call and ask. Is there a difference betweem otc and prescription prenatals.
OTC products have significantly more of each vitamin compared with Rx with several exceptions including. Iron folic acid copper and vitamin B6. Most pregnant women take PMVMs.
If pregnant women are not consuming enough essential micronutrients from diet it is possible that PMVMs will provide adequate amounts. However this depends on the specific vitamin or mineral. The average pregnant woman in the United States is deficient in many vitamins and minerals from food intake alone.
Over 80 of OTC and Rx PMVMs would correct the RDA deficit for vitamin B6 folic acid vitamin C vitamin E and iron.