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
