Should I take folic acid on an empty stomach or after a meal?

Folic acid is something that every woman must take before becoming pregnant. Taking folic acid can prevent fetal malformations. Folic acid is generally taken 2-3 months before a woman prepares for pregnancy. People have certain misunderstandings about taking folic acid, thinking that only women can take folic acid. In fact, men can also take folic acid. When is the best time to take folic acid? In fact, folic acid is best taken after meals. Taking folic acid before meals may affect appetite.

Folic acid tablets should be taken after meals. Half an hour after a meal, the digestion of food is basically completed, the amount of stomach acid is relatively small, and the ingredients in the medicine can be absorbed smoothly. If you take medicine immediately after a meal, the medicine will be mixed with the food and transported to the small intestine in a paste form. The medicine must be absorbed by the stomach to exert its function. Once it is mixed with the food and transported to the small intestine, it will not be able to exert its own effect. In addition, it is best for users to take it at a fixed time each day.

Generally, it is started 1-2 months before pregnancy, and then taken for about 3 consecutive months after pregnancy, one tablet a day, 0.4 mg at a time, once a day. It is best to buy it at a maternal and child health care hospital because the content of other medicines is different. There are no side effects as long as you do not exceed the dosage, and it has no effect on your menstrual period. Generally, it is started 1-2 months before pregnancy, and then taken for about 3 consecutive months after pregnancy, one tablet a day, 0.4 mg at a time, once a day. It is best to buy it at a maternal and child health care hospital because the content of other medicines is different. There are no side effects as long as you do not exceed the dosage, and it has no effect on your menstrual period.

Men only need to take it until they are sure that the woman is pregnant, and women should take it until the end of breastfeeding. The main effects during this period are to prevent congenital heart disease and other body malformations, prevent postpartum anemia, improve the quality of breast milk, etc.

Popular science on when to take medicine: before or after meals

① Before meals (30 minutes before meals): Astringent and antidiarrheal drugs, stomach wall protective drugs, and adsorption drugs should all be taken before meals; choleretic drugs such as magnesium sulfate, sodium cholate, etc., so that the drugs will not be overly diluted when passing through the stomach and ensure efficacy; intestinal anti-infective drugs that do not cause much stimulation to the digestive system should be taken before meals.

② During meals (shortly before or after meals): Digestive aids such as pepsin mixture should be taken during meals so that the drugs can take effect in time; some drugs that are particularly irritating to the gastrointestinal tract (ferrous sulfate, levodopafen) can also be taken during meals.

③After meals (15-30 minutes after meals): Most medicines can be taken after meals. Especially drugs that are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract such as aspirin, indomethacin, potassium iodide, digitalis, berberine, etc.

④ On an empty stomach (early in the morning): Anthelmintics such as ascaridole and betel nut can quickly enter the intestines, maintain high concentrations and directly act on the worms; saline laxatives, such as magnesium sulfate, can quickly enter the intestines and take effect.

⑤ Before going to bed: hypnotics, tranquilizers, certain slow-acting laxatives, etc.