Prenate Mini
Prenate is a prescription prenatal vitamin meant to provide nutritional support during pregnancy. It's available in different formulations, each with a unique combination of ingredients meant for different stages of pregnancy. Some formulations are even tailored for people who are trying to get pregnant (Prenate Pixie) or for those who are breastfeeding (Prenate Restore). If you have trouble swallowing, Prenate also comes as chewable tablets. Like with many prenatal vitamins, some side effects can include nausea, constipation, and bloating.
What is Prenate?
What is Prenate used for?
- Prenatal vitamin
How Prenate works
Prenate is a dietary supplement. It contains multiple vitamins and supplements that help support nutritional needs of mother and baby before, during, and after pregnancy.
Drug facts
Side effects of Prenate
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
See Risks and Warnings
Prenate serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat
The following Prenate side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
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Pros and cons of Prenate
Pros
- Only need to take once a day
- Available in different sized softgels
- Combines multiple vitamins in one pill
- Available as a chewable tablet, which might be a good option if you have trouble swallowing pills
Cons
- Only available with a prescription
- Some products contain soy and fish oil, not suitable for people with those allergies
- Available in many different formulations, which can be confusing
Pharmacist tips for Prenate
- Some Prenate products contain soy, fish, and other animal products. Make sure to tell your provider about all of your allergies and dietary restrictions before starting this medication.
- In addition to eating healthy, a prenatal vitamin like Prenate can help supply all of the nutrition you need to support you and your baby during pregnancy. But everyone has different nutritional needs, so talk with your provider about the best supplement choice for you.
- Prenate can be taken with or without food. If your product contains iron, it's best absorbed on an empty stomach. If it upsets your stomach, it's okay to take it with a small amount of food.
- Tell your provider or pharmacist all the medications and supplements you're taking. They can help you check for any interactions to make sure Prenate is safe for you to take.
Common questions about Prenate
There are many different Prenate products, and each has its own combination of ingredients. While all Prenate products can be taken during pregnancy, some are meant to meet the nutritional needs for a particular stage of pregnancy or to address a particular concern. For example, Prenate Pixie is meant to be taken while you're trying to conceive. Prenate Mini is smaller than the other prenatal vitamins, which makes it easier to take for people who have a hard time swallowing pills. Prenate Chewable is a chocolate-flavored chew that doesn't have a vitamin aftertaste, and it might be a good choice for people who get nauseous from the strong aftertaste other vitamins can have. Your provider can help you choose the best prenatal vitamin that fits your individual needs.
No. While many prenatal vitamins are available over the counter, Prenate is only available with a prescription from your provider.
Your provider will most likely recommend that you to take a prenatal vitamin daily to make sure you're getting all the needed nutrition for a healthy pregnancy. During pregnancy, your body needs specific vitamins and minerals to support you and your growing baby. For example, it's important that you take in enough folic acid because it's important in helping your baby's brain and spinal cord develop. Another example is that you'll need more iron to help your body make blood for the baby. It can be hard to get all of the recommended nutrition through food alone. Ask your provider if you need to pick a prenatal vitamin with any specific ingredient.
Ingredients in different prenatal vitamins can differ, so it's best to read the label of your particular product. For example, all of the Prenate products contain folic acid (an important vitamin for your baby's brain and spinal cord development during early pregnancy), but not all of them contain iron. For the Prenate products that do contain iron, they sometimes differ in the amount of iron in each pill. Discuss with your provider whether you need to look for a prenatal vitamin with any particular ingredient, and what other vitamins and supplements are important for you to take.
Your provider can guide you on the best time to start a prenatal vitamin like Prenate. The CDC recommends that females who are trying to become pregnant take 400 mcg of folic acid daily for at least 1 month before they get pregnant. Most prenatal vitamins (including Prenate) contain at least this much folic acid. Having enough folic acid in your body before you get pregnant might help prevent some birth defects.
Yes. All Prenate supplements can be taken during pregnancy, but there are certain supplements that are specifically designed for before you're pregnant and after you've had your baby. Prenate Pixie is a small capsule that's meant to be taken before or during pregnancy. It contains fewer ingredients and a lower amount of some of the ingredients found in other Prenate supplements. And Prenate Restore is designed to support the nutritional needs of those who've had their babies, as well as those who are breastfeeding.
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Risks and warnings for Prenate
Prenate 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.
Risk of bleeding
- Risk factors: History of bleeding problems | Taking blood-thinning medications | Taking other supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids
Some Prenate products contain DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid. Taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day can potentially increase your risk for bleeding. Your risk of bleeding is low if you're only taking Prenate as prescribed because the products typically only contain up to 400 mg of DHA. To be safe, let your provider know if you're taking blood thinners (e.g., warfarin (Coumadin)) or if you have a history of bleeding problems. Always check with your provider before taking other supplements to make sure you aren't taking too much omega-3 fatty acids a day.
Some Prenate products contain DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid. Taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids a day can potentially increase your risk for bleeding. Your risk of bleeding is low if you're only taking Prenate as prescribed because the products typically only contain up to 400 mg of DHA. To be safe, let your provider know if you're taking blood thinners (e.g., Iron overdose in children
- Risk factors: Children age 6 years and under
Some Prenate products contain iron, which is also in many over-the-counter products. Taking too much iron can lead to serious side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tears in your gut. Tell your provider or pharmacist all the medications and supplements you're taking so they can make sure you aren't taking too much iron.
Also, keep this medication out of reach of children. Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of death from poisoning in children. If you think a child accidentally took a Prenate product that contains iron, get medical help or call a Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Potential to hide anemia due to low vitamin B12
Prenate contains folic acid, which can sometimes hide a condition called pernicious anemia (a type of 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.
Allergic reaction
- Risk factors: History of allergy to Yellow No. 5 | History of allergy to aspirin
In some rare cases, Prenate can cause a severe allergic reaction. Some Prenate products contain a dye called Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine). Let your provider know if you've had an allergic reaction to Yellow No. 5 in the past. If you experience a rash, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, get medical help right away.
Prenate dosage
Capsule| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60mg/1000iu/10iu | 30 capsules | $192.25 | $6.41 |
Typical dosage for Prenate
The typical dose is 1 pill by mouth once a day, or as directed by your provider.
How much does Prenate cost?
$192.25
What are alternatives to Prenate?
Prenate images
