Citracal® Prenatal is a brand of vitamins that can be prescribed by a doctor to pregnant women. It comes in the form of a coated tablet, powder, capsule, or chewable tablet, and is typically meant to be taken once per day with a glass of water, about two hours after a meal. Like most other prenatal vitamins, its purpose is to prevent a deficiency of important vitamins during pregnancy, and can also be taken when trying to conceive or when breastfeeding.
This kind of prenatal vitamin includes all the typical minerals in most other brands, with the addition of a few more. For example, Citracal® Prenatal includes vitamins A, C, D, E and B6, as well as iron, calcium, riboflavin, thiamin, folic acid, and zinc. In addition to these minerals, which are commonly found in most prenatal vitamins, this type of supplement also includes iodine, copper, and docusate sodium, a mineral known for helping eliminate constipation during pregnancy.
One type of Citracal® Prenatal also includes DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, which is known for improving brain and eye development of the fetus. This product used to be called Citracal® Prenatal + DHA, but is now under the name Citranatal DHA. This addition to the vitamin is an omega-3 fatty acid that is most often found in fish, and it is meant to help make up for the fact that pregnant women are supposed to limit their ingestion of certain types of fish due to the risk of mercury.
Patients can be prescribed Citracal® Prenatal only after telling their doctor whether they are allergic to any substances or have certain health conditions. For example, patients with iron overload disorder, a tendency to abuse alcohol, or liver or stomach issues should ask their doctor if this is the best prenatal vitamin for them, as there could be some negative drug interactions. Additionally, patients should mention to their doctor what other medications they are taking, as anti-seizure medications, herbal remedies, and more could all interact badly with this prescription prenatal.
Most people do not experience side effects from Citracal® Prenatal, but as with any drug, they are possible. Some patients may notice nausea, diarrhea, or constipation when they first begin taking this prenatal vitamin, but these symptoms should go away shortly. If not, or if swelling, dizziness, a rash, or breathing problems begin, a doctor should be notified and use of the vitamins should be discontinued.