Are Prescribed Prenatal Vitamins Better Than Over The Counter

Understanding the differences between over the counter and prescription prenatal vitamins can help you decide which is best for you.

Are prescribed prenatal vitamins better than over the counter.

Prenatal vitamins are readily available over the counter and a prescription is generally unnecessary. Most otcs contain 800 micrograms 0 008 mg or less. A baby s neural tube which will develop into both the brain and spinal cord develops during the first month of pregnancy. 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.

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. Micronutrient content prescription prenatal vitamins often contain up to 1 000 micrograms of folic acid which is the most you should take per day but otc versions usually contain no more than 800 micrograms. 2 learn more about folmax our proprietary immediate and modified release folic acid used in vitamedmd s vitapearl.

Over the counter prenatal vitamin or prescription prenatal. Many prescription prenatal vitamins contain 1 000 micrograms 1 milligram or more while on the average. Prescription prenatal vitamins to support mother baby. Prenate is a leading provider of prescription.

If you ve already given birth to a baby with neural tube defects your doctor will likely start you on a prescription. No omega 3s prescription or otc since that was almost 8 years ago. 7 plus it is absorbed more rapidly and more efficiently and to a greater extent than calcium citrate and calcium carbonate common forms of calcium in over the counter prenatal vitamins. It is gentle on the gastrointestinal tract.

Check with your insurance to see if they cover prenatal vitamins. If so you ll likely need your doctor to give you a prescription for them. Another big reason that otc vitamins are not the same as medical grade vitamins is the concentrations found in the product. In short there doesn t have to be a difference between prescription and over the counter prenatal vitamins.

But not all moms need the extra dose. The best time to begin taking prenatal vitamins is before you conceive. Medical grade supplements usually contain the best forms of these vitamins to ensure that your body is getting the most natural and effective form of the vitamin even if it costs a little more. First pregnancy 20 a month for prescription prenatal vitamins.