Prenatal Vitamins: Prescription vs Over-the-Counter

on June 27, 2009 at 8:00 AM

My doctor gave me the choice -- she said I could take over-the-counter prenatal vitamins or get a prescription. I went with the prescription because I was thinking they would be better and hey, I'm new at this mama-to-be gig and probably more paranoid about everything than a mama-to-be who already has a child.

The drugstore rang me up -- $50 for my prescription prenatals. Whoa.

I paid and on the way out saw that the OTC brand was $17.99. Hmm. Maybe next month, I'll go with the cheaper ones with my doctor's advice.

A recent post here showed that 54 percent of you are taking your prenatals religiously.

According to WebMD, if your prenatal, either OTC or prescription, contains the following, then you have a good vitamin.

4,000 and 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A
800 and 1,000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid
400 IU of vitamin D
200 to 300 mg of calcium
70 mg of vitamin C
1.5 mg of thiamine
1.6 mg of riboflavin
2.6 mg of pyridoxine
17 mg of niacinamide
2.2 mcg of vitamin B12
10 mg of vitamin E
15 mg of zinc
30 mg of iron

Do you take prescription of over-the-counter? Which do you think are better or is there even a difference?

About the author Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

Filed Under: pregnancy health

Comments (26)

AHamrick

on Jun 27, 2009 at 8:50 AM

I'm a pharmacy technician; and the difference in prescription and otc is the otc one's only have so much of each vitamin in them. For example Folic Acid- OTC has point something mg. You can only get 1 mg or higher by prescription. The prescription one's are the only one's regulated and tested by the FDA. So if you buy OTC, you may not be getting what the lable says is in it.

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Nanna22

on Jun 27, 2009 at 9:20 AM

The prescription prenatals made me sick. The OTC worked much better for me..

boizmom

on Jun 27, 2009 at 10:10 AM

This pregnancy I have tried both Rx and OTC. Both made my already terrible morning sickness worse. So, now I take Flinstones Complete Chewables. I checked with my Doctor on it and he okay'd it. I am able to take my vitamins now and not get sick right after. I was taking prenatals for 2 months before we started TTC and I took them up until I was 7 weeks. I am almost 9 weeks now. Once the morning sickness starts to wear off I may go back to them. I just have the worse morning sickness which has made me dehydrated and losing weight.

tippymorgan08

on Jun 27, 2009 at 10:40 AM

With my first pregnancy, I started out on one type of prenatal vitamin, and as so often happens, it made me sick to my stomach. Then in one of my groups here on CM I heard about Rainbow Light prenatals, which are all natural, and they contain EVERY ingredient listed in that WebMD article either in the proper amount, or a little higher. Once I switched to Rainbow Light I have had no problems. I purchase their Prenatal Pack, which consists of the prenatal vitamin and a DHA supplement. On their site one pack is almost $30, but I found them much cheaper somewhere else ($18). Plus, upon doing my research before I switched, I found out that Rainbow Light is the #1 selling women's prenatal vitamin, which made me lean even more towards the brand. I took them for 8 months in pregnancy one (I was taking another brand first as stated), and I've been taking them this entire pregnancy, with no problems.

I'm glad this info was posted though, as I had thought about giving the One-A-Day prenatals a try as they are easier to find, but they find lack in a lot of those supplements. I'll stick with my Rainbow Lights! Great info!

jennmarie77

on Jun 27, 2009 at 1:22 PM

We've been TTC for awhile now and I was using the Script ones for the first couple of months but that adds up. With both my boys I took the OTC and didn't have any issues.

madamekatekate

on Jun 27, 2009 at 2:53 PM

I use OTC. My doctor is fine with it and so am I. Thing is this last bottle I bought they taste really bad, lol. I've had days where I can still taste them on into dinner time. If it weren't for the fact that I only ought to be pregnant for about 19 more days I'd pass these on to a friend and get some other brand.

I get that prenatals are important and I'd never purposely not take them but I've always wondered how my first daughter ended up so healthy. I didn't know I was pregnant until I was about 4-5 months and didn't take a single vitamin until I was almost 6 months. Yet little Wonder Baby came out strong and healthy like I had known all 9 months.

gurliegal86

on Jun 27, 2009 at 9:39 PM

For my pregnancy I took over the counter because I compared them to the perscription ones and they are almost exactly the same. Plus like you said it isn't so hard on your wallet which is important when you have a tight budget. Also my baby came out very healthy with the OTC prenatal vitamins so I think that you would be fine if you decide to go that route.

mupt02

on Jun 27, 2009 at 9:58 PM

My prescription ones were over $50 for a one month supply. One day I compared the ingredient list on the prescription bottles to that of the OTC and it was exactly the same. Now I pay $18 for 100 pills. My MD says this is just fine.

codysmama2609

on Jun 27, 2009 at 11:44 PM

i also take the Rainbow Light prenatals . they were also similar to the ones my midwife would suggest, but theres were smaller tablets that you took like 9 through out theday..

anyways... the rainbow light ones are great, big but great and i think vegetarian and natural... i dont have the bottle in front of me.

i usually pick up one bottle of 50 for 9.99 at wal-greens. last time i got them at rite-aid buy one get one free for 10.99. im not pregnant anymore but i am ttc, so have been continuing with my prenatals since my loss, actually since i found out i was pregnant to begin with , thats when i started them.