How much Folic Acid should I take?

I have MTHFR and lack B vitamins. My doctor told me to take lots of Folic Acid back when we were ttc and when I was pregnant. Now that we started TTC again in Nov, I am wondering how much to take. I am going to the store tonight to pick up baby aspirin and prenatals. I have a bottle of Folic Acid. I never asked my doctor how much Folic Acid I should be taking, and I can't get in to see him until Jan 5th (unless of course I get a BFP when AF is due on the 9th).

Can someone give me an idea of how much to take? I used to take one prenatal and one Folic Acid, but not sure if I would need more than that.

Thanks!

[laura1985]

*bump*

[sweetangel7]

Health risk of too much folic acid

The risk of toxicity from folic acid is low.[60] The Institute of Medicine has established a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for folate of 1 mg for adult men and women, and a UL of 800 µg for pregnant and lactating (breast-feeding) women less than 18 years of age. Supplemental folic acid should not exceed the UL to prevent folic acid from masking symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.[61]

I'd go no more than 1mg...I just get what it in my prenatal...I'm not even sure how much it is AND we were at risk for a birth defect.  The doctor said that the important thing is not the amount (I think it is like 400 mcg that is recommended) BUT the build up in your system and the consistency of it especially in the first weeks etc.  BUT if you and your doctor want extra, follow the above guideline and do no more than a mg

[victoria83]

i also have that blood clotting condition and i just would take the baby asprin and the prenantal vit. and i take that now too even though im not preg. (my dr recomended me to do that) all i can say is i hate the bruses from the baby asprin, and them little buggers would show up from the wind blowing on my legs crazy. well good luck.

[evthing4reason]

In Canada there are new recommendations of up to 5mg of folic acid a day. The month before i got pregnant and the first trimester i took my prenatal plus 2-3 mg daily.