L-Methylfolate FAQs
How much does L-Methylfolate cost without insurance?
Without insurance, customers can expect to pay $138.93 for 30, 15mg tablets for L-Methylfolate as a generic, stand-alone folate supplement. With a SingleCare discount card, the cost of L-Methylfolate drops to $38.00 for 30, 15mg tablets.
How much does L-Methylfolate cost with insurance?
As with any prescription, the copay cost of L-Methylfolate will vary depending on the insurance plan that covers it. Some insurance plans will not cover L-Methylfolate prescriptions even with a prescription. If your insurance does cover L-Methylfolate, ask your pharmacist to see how the SingleCare discount price compares with the copay cost. With SingleCare, L-Methylfolate costs as little as $38.00 for 30, 15mg tablets, which might save you more money than using insurance.
Does Medicare cover L-Methylfolate and how much does it cost?
Medicare prescription drug plans rarely cover L-Methylfolate. Medicare patients should consider using a SingleCare L-Methylfolate coupon, instead. SingleCare is accepted at thousands of participating pharmacies.
What is the brand name of L-Methylfolate?
L-Methylfolate is the bioactive form of folate (vitamin B9) and is found in a wide spectrum of prescription and over-the-counter B9 supplements, B vitamin complex supplements, and multivitamins. It is also a common ingredient in iron and blood health supplements.
Folate is sold as an individual non-prescription supplement under the name “vitamin B9,” “b9,” “folate,” or “folic acid” under well-known (Nature Made, GNC) and generic brands (NOW Foods, Jarrow). Generic prescription folate supplements are available from manufacturers such as Major and Poly Pharmaceuticals.
What is L-Methylfolate?
L-Methylfolate is the biologically active form of folate (vitamin B9) used by cells for DNA duplication and cell division, both of which are necessary for the growth and health of the body's tissues. L-Methylfolate is found abundantly in foods such as leafy vegetables, legumes, citrus, avocados, berries, and brewer's yeast. A well-balanced diet will provide all the body's daily folate requirements.
L-Methylfolate, also called levomefolic acid, methyltetrahydrofolate, and 5-MTHF, is also a common ingredient in prescription and non-prescription folate supplements, B vitamin supplements, and multivitamins. Other forms of folate used in supplements include folic acid and L-methylfolate calcium, both of which must be chemically altered by the body before they can be used by cells.
L-Methylfolate is used to treat or prevent folate deficiency due to poor nutrition, pregnancy, illness, or some other condition. Because it is critical to cell reproduction, vitamin B9 is a necessary component of the body's ability to produce red blood cells. Folate-deficiency anemia – a decline in healthy red blood cells – is a direct result of a vitamin B9 shortage in the body. Because of its role in red blood cell production, L-Methylfolate is often included in iron or other supplements intended to treat iron-deficiency anemia.
Folate supplements, along with vitamin B6 and B12, are sometimes advised or prescribed to patients to help prevent heart attack or stroke. Folate is also prescribed to treat depression in patients who are also taking antidepressants. Although folate supplements alone do not improve depression, they increase the effectiveness of antidepressants.
Folate is critical to the development of a fetus's neural tube (brain and spinal cord) and so is often prescribed or used by pregnant women to ensure the proper neurological development of the fetus. L-Methylfolate is also often used to fortify infant formula to support central nervous system development.
Finally, L-Methylfolate is very commonly added to foods, such as cereals, breads, pasta, and processed foods, to ensure adequate intake of vitamin B9 throughout the population.
What are the side effects of L-Methylfolate?
Common side effects of L-Methylfolate include but are not limited to gas, decreased appetite, nausea, and swelling. These side effects, however, are very rare and very minimal when they do occur Allergic reactions to L-Methylfolate are extremely rare. Mental and mood changes are more common when taking folate supplements. Among these side effects are trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, and over-excitement.
This is not a complete list of side effects. Your prescribing physician will address any questions or concerns you may have about L-Methylfolate side effects.