Are over the counter prenatal vitamins as good as prescibtion vitamins? I have over the counter ones that I have been taking in anticipation of getting pregnant. Now that I am pregnant should I get a prescription right away or can I continue using these ones until my first appointment? Is there really that big of a difference?
You would have to compare the labels to see which ones have the best amounts of vitamins in them. My Dr. gave me a seperate script for Folic Acid-The other thing is that Dr's offices get samples upon samples. I haven't paid a dime for my vitamins my whole pregnancy, they have just given me samples of the one they want me to use.
Good luck,
C.
Hi L.~
Like everyone else said, its the Folic Acid you have to look at, your doc will be able to guide you. One thing to keep in mind, though, if you have a low copay on prescriptions, it may be cheaper to get an Rx instead of buying OTC. Congrats on the baby!
~L.
MY OBGYN told me they're fine the over the counter ones. I too am trying. Good luck.
I just had a comment about the folic acid. Although it is VERY important for the baby to get adaquate amounts of folic acid for the development of the neural tube, if you are already pregnant, taking more folic acid at this point probably wont benefit you much. I had a baby with Anencephaly last year and from what my dr's said and all the research I did, folic acid has to be taken in the 3 months prior to conception and for the first 6 weeks after. After that point, the neural tube is formed and the folic acid cant prevent any defect that may occur. If it's cheaper for you to use the OTC, then use them, but like a PP said, if your insurance co-pay is less you might as well get a rx.
K.
L., I took the over the counter throughout my entire pregnancy. I was taking them prior to becoming pregnant and once I got pregnant I started on the prescription and they made me nautious and were really expensive. I took my over the counter ones to the Doctor and she said they contained everything that I needed, but didn't have enough folic acid so I took those as well. Good luck to you!
If I remember correctly, the main difference between over the counter and perscription is the amount of folic acid. 800 verses 1000. I asked a pharmacist and they said it was okay. I took over the counter for both my pregancies, ate as healthy as I could and both were born naturally with no problems. That's my experience with it!
The prescription one made me sick. My dr told me that the over the counter one are just as good as the prescription ones, and the cost was less for me to take the over the counter ones as opposed to the prescription.
I would ask your doctor. They sometimes send you prescriptions for prenatal vitamins while you wait for your appointment to arrive.
I was told to take extra folic acid along with the otc prenatal vitamin. Congrats and good luck!
There are so many different types it just depends. I am taking over the counter (Kroger brand) and a DHA supplement. Take your vitamins with you to your Dr. Apt. or call in and talk to the nurse. They can tell you if it has everything you need or not (there are some bad things you don't want to). I took prescription last time and the only difference was the price.
My OB had me take one flinstone in the morning and one in the evening. He told me that the prenatals are stuffed with so much that your body can not absorb all of it and you end up peeing a lot of it out, so this way you are getting it in two doses and it is not going to waste. I have heard of other OB's doing this also. Good luck.
I took a centrum multi vitamin. the dr. prescribed 2 different brands of prenatal vitamins but they both made me sick. the centrum didnt bother me. look for lots of folic acid.. or take an extra pill of just folic acid. Also you should take ecra calcium.. they think it might prevent preeclamplsia and hight blood pressure in pregnancy... The extra calcium will help with the pregnancy leg cramps that I had when I was pregnant with my daughter.
L.~when I got pregnant with both of my kids I used over the counter vitamins till my first appointment. Even the over the counter ones have more folic acid in them then normal vitamins and that is what you have to be concerned with. Congradulations on your second child.
congratulations!!!
when i went to get my script filled (for prenatals) the pharmacist told me to just buy them over the counter- that they actually dont have prescription prenatals. but. the health food store has some really yummy (as in healthy) ones. they are made from real foods, as opposed to synthetic ones, and that helps your body absorb all those vitamins and nutrients more effectively. give them a try. they cost a little more, but i think it is worth it.
I was taken over the counter prenatal vitamins up until my 1st appointment and my doctor said that was fine but that she wanted to change me to a prescription as otc ones don't have as much folic acid as they would like to see you on. She did say it was better I was on the otc one's then nothing. I would think you should be fine til your appointment.
