Health Professionals:

Other Health Benefits and Special Considerations

Certain medications may interfere with folate absorption, metabolism, or excretion. These include anti-seizure medications, certain antibiotics, medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or cancer, and certain anti-inflammatory medications. Individuals taking these medications may have a higher folate requirement.

Potential Drug Interactions with Folate

Drug Category or Treatment

Examples*

Antacids, Anti-ulcer

Histamine-2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors

Antibiotics

Combination of trimethoprim and a sulfonamide (Bactrim®, Septra®)

Anticancer

Methotrexate, aminopterin

Anticonvulsants, antiseizure

Phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Carbatrol®, Equetro®, Epitol®), primidone (Mysoline®), valproic acid (Depakene®), valproate (Depacon®)

Antihistamines

Cimetidine (Tagamet®)

Anti-inflammatory

Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine®)

Antimalarial

Pyrimethamine

Beta-blockers and calcium-channel blockers

Some medications used to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions

Diabetes

Metformin

Diuretics

Triamterene

Hypercholesterolemia

Cholestyramine (Locholest®, Questran®)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)

Aspirin, ibuprofen

Rheumatoid arthritis

Methotrexate

Sulfonamides

Sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine

*This list is not all inclusive
Source: Bailey et al., 2001 ; Cabrera et al., 2004; National Institutes of Health, 2016

 


Health professional

Health professionals

OB/GYN