Prescription Vs. over the Counter Prenatal Vitamins

I would highly recommend getting them at a Whole Foods/CoOp. The people that work behind the counter in that area of the store are very knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction as far as the vitamin that your body absorbs the most of or whatever other criteria you're looking for. I did it this way and was very happy with the one I chose from their recommendations. Hope this helps :)

I had taken the prescription (prenatal RX & prenatal elite) I believe were the names, there is more folic acid.

Hi-
If you are pregnant, I recommend the prescription because they have more folic acid.
If you are nursing or just taking prenatal vitamins versus regular, OTC is fine.
I checked them out with my last pregnancy a year ago and the deviation in minerals didn't vary much except for the folic acid which is crucial when pregnant.
Hope that helps!

My doctor said my regular vitamins were fine, as long as I added folic acid as well. I was taking Centrum Chewables that were easier on my stomach.

I've been taking the Sams Club brand of prenatal vitamins for about 2 years now (still nursing). I bought them and took them to my dr. He checked the lable and had one of them tested to be sure. And he said their the same thing only a difference in name and cost. Save ursself the money I get a bottle of 300 for $8.00. Good luck

My midwife said that over the counter were just as good as the Rx version & you can save some money. She had me just use the Target Prenatal. If you are worried you can always take an additional Folic Acid & Fish Oil pill a couple days a week. My child turned out just fine with what we did! =)

I used OTC with my first, but decided to fill the scrip this time around. (We had some cash in the flex spending account to use up, so what the heck, right?)

I found the ones my doctor prescribed to be easier to take (slightly better taste) and WAY easier on my stomach. I only got 2 months worth; I've already spent more on these than on the 2 year supply of Cub's knockoff of the Stuart Prenatals I used the first time. There's plenty of folic acid in either one.

Bottom line, if you're early on and you feel queasy with an OTC vitamin, try the Rx. If you're past the queasy stage, I'd skip it.

Good luck!

I have no idea. I just go with over the counter cheap ones. I didn't know they had prescription.

My OB said over the counter were just fine. the only difference between the two are price.

I was percribed a prenatal vitamin as well because my iron and a few other levels in my blood were a little lower than normal. OTC Prenatal vitamins were not going to be good enough according to my dr., so he perscribed me with a perscription, all of which my insurance covered so it was actually cheaper for me to have the better vitamin.

If insurance will cover it, go with the perscription. Evaluate the costs...if you're paying less for the perscription, even if your insurance won't cover the entire cost, it still might be cheaper than the ones that are OTC.

If getting them by prescription makes them cheaper, go that route. If not, get OTC. They are pretty much the same thing. I couldn't take them when I was pg, they made me sick. Even regular vitamins are ok to take. I didn't take any at all, although I know it is recommended to take them if you can tolerate them. If you are unsure about which to take, ask your doc who prescribed them.
S.

Prescription prenatals made me so sick and my doctor said that the over the counter pills were exactly the same... even recommended Flinstone Vitamins to take!

According to my OB, OTC are just as good as prescriptions, but like the other mom said. Go with what's cheaper.