FOLINIC ACID CALCIUM SALT PENTAHYDRATE

The Uses of FOLINIC ACID CALCIUM SALT PENTAHYDRATE

Anti-anemic (folate deficiency); antidote (to folic acid antagonists).

brand name

Wellcovorin (GlaxoSmithKline).

Clinical Use

Folinic acid rescue
Enhancement of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity in advanced colorectal cancer
Folate deficiency

Drug interactions

Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs Should not be administered simultaneously with a folic acid antagonist as this may nullify the effect of the antagonist.
Cytotoxics: avoid with panitumumab and raltitrexed.

Metabolism

Folinic acid is a racemate where the L-form (L-5- formyl-tetrahydrofolate, L-5-formyl-THF), is the active enantiomer. The major metabolic product of folinic acid is 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid (5-methyl-THF) which is predominantly produced in the liver and intestinal mucosa.
80-90% with the urine (5- and 10-formyltetrahydrofolates inactive metabolites), 5-8% with the faeces.