Nufola
Nufola is a dietary supplement that's taken by mouth daily. The manufacturer claims that it can help support a healthy nervous system. It has many different ingredients, so tell your provider about any other vitamins or supplements you're taking to make sure you're not taking too much of the same thing.
What is Nufola?
What is Nufola used for?
- Dietary supplement
How Nufola works
Nufola is a combination of three vitamins and one antioxidant that are thought to support a healthy nervous system.
- L-methylfolate is a form of folate. It's an important B vitamin for making DNA and new cells in your body.
- Vitamin B6 is also known as pyridoxine. It's mainly involved with your body's metabolism (energy process).
- Vitamin B12 is also known as methylcobalamin. It helps make DNA and keeps your nerves healthy.
- Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that's thought to lessen inflammation and damage to your blood vessels.
Drug facts
Side effects of Nufola
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
Less Common Side Effects
- "Pins and needles" feeling
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping
- Headache
- Rash
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Pros and cons of Nufola
Pros
- Conveniently combines multiple vitamins into a single pill
- Not a lot of side effects
- Thought to cause an energy boost within a few days
- Once-daily dosing
Cons
- Can't be used in females who are of childbearing age, pregnant, or breastfeeding
- Not approved by the FDA (so it's not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease)
- Can't be used in children
- Many potential interactions with other medications
Pharmacist tips for Nufola
- Swallow Nufola whole with water. Don't open the capsules.
- Store Nufola at room temperature. Keep it away from heat or moisture.
- Check the labels of any other vitamins (including multivitamins) and supplements you're taking. Don't take additional supplements with folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, or alpha-lipoic acid unless your provider specifically said it was safe to do so.
- Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medications and supplements you're taking before starting Nufola to make sure there are no interactions. For example, vitamin B6 can affect the way phenytoin (Dilantin) works in your body to treat seizures. Another example of a possible interaction is between alpha-lipoic acid and thyroid medications. These aren't the only medication interactions with Nufola, so to be safe, share all the medications you're taking with your provider or pharmacist.
Common questions about Nufola
No, Nufola isn't an FDA approved medication. Nufola is considered a dietary supplement and the FDA regulates these differently than they do traditional medications. Manufacturers of supplements don't have to prove the safety or quality of these products before they hit the market. But the manufacturers do have to label them properly and produce them according to certain manufacturing standards set by Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
The manufacturer claims that you'll notice yourself having more energy within 2-4 days of starting Nufola. They also suggest that this multivitamin lessens burning, numbness, and tingling sensations in your arms, hands, legs, and feet after 1-2 months. Keep in mind, however, that these claims haven't been studied by the FDA.
Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a man-made form of folate that's found in many over-the-counter multivitamins. Folic acid is the only form of folate that's proven to prevent neural tube defects, a serious birth defect that involves the brain and spine. L-methylfolate is a form of folate that's found naturally in foods. This form of folate hasn't been studied in preventing neural tube defects. Nufola contains L-methylfolate.
The manufacturer suggests that the combination of folate and B vitamins in Nufola can help lessen symptoms of depression in certain people with diabetes (high blood sugar) who have foot ulcers. But this hasn't been studied by the FDA. Get medical help if you're having depressed thoughts or thoughts of harming yourself; you might need to take an antidepressant that's FDA-approved to treat depression symptoms. If you're not sure about taking medications, ask your provider about other ways to help with your mood, such as meditation, acupuncture, or healthy diet.
No. Nufola is available over the counter and you don't need a prescription.
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Risks and warnings for Nufola
Nufola can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Toxicity from taking too much
- Risk factors: Taking more than the recommended dose
It's possible to take too much Nufola, which can cause serious side effects from either too much folate, too much vitamin B6, or too much vitamin B12. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for how to take this supplement properly. Since many supplements contain these vitamins, always check with your provider or pharmacist to make sure you're not taking too much. Let your provider know if you experience symptoms such as tingling in your arms or legs, nausea, dizziness, or sleeping problems.
Medication interactions
The ingredients in Nufola can interact with commonly used medications and supplements. Folate, for example, can make medications like methotrexate (Trexall) and anti-seizure medications not work as well. Vitamin B6, for example, might worsen some side effects caused by amiodarone; it might also cause phenytoin (Dilantin) to work less well and raise your risk for seizures. Alpha-lipoic acid might have an effect on diabetes medications and cause your blood sugars to drop too low. There are other medication interactions that aren't listed here, so make sure to talk with your provider or pharmacist before using any other medications with Nufola.
Potential to hide anemia due to low vitamin B12
Nufola contains folate, which can sometimes mask a condition called pernicious anemia, or anemia due to low vitamin B12 levels. Avoid using this medication alone if you have low vitamin B12 levels. If you have a history of low vitamin B12 levels, let your healthcare provider know.
Nufola dosage
Capsule| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25mg/3.5mg/1mg | 30 capsules | $27.25 | $0.91 |
Typical dosage for Nufola
Each Nufola capsule contains 25 mg of vitamin B6, 3.5 mg of L-methylfolate, 1 mg of vitamin B12, and 300 mg of alpha-lipoic acid.
The typical dose is to take 1-2 capsules by mouth daily.
How much does Nufola cost?
$27.25
Nufola contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Nufola will not be safe for you to take.
- Children
- Females who are of childbearing age, pregnant, or breastfeeding
- People who have low thiamine levels
