Generic Citracal Prenatal + DHA

The FDA is not required to approve prenatal vitamins (including Citracal Prenatal + DHA). As a result, there is no generic Citracal Prenatal + DHA, because the FDA does not have to determine if any generic prenatal vitamins are equivalent to the brand-name products. However, there are generic prenatal vitamins that contain similar ingredients as Citracal Prenatal + DHA.

 

Generic Citracal Prenatal + DHA: An Overview

Citracal® Prenatal + DHA and Citracal Prenatal 90 + DHA prenatal vitamins are specifically designed for pregnant women, although they are also useful for women before and after pregnancy. These particular prenatal vitamins are only available with a prescription. These two prenatal vitamins are exactly the same, except that Citracal Prenatal 90 + DHA contains more iron (90 mg), compared to regular Citracal Prenatal + DHA (which has 27 mg of iron).
 
Citracal Prenatal + DHA prenatal vitamins are manufactured by Mission Pharmacal Company. There are no generic versions of Citracal Prenatal + DHA products available.
 

Problems With Generic Prenatal Vitamins

The issue of
 generic prenatal vitamins is a confusing and sometimes controversial one. Generic prenatal vitamins present an interesting technical problem. Because prenatal vitamins are not required to be approved by the FDA, they are not given "equivalence ratings" by the FDA. Equivalence ratings are used by pharmacists to determine which generic products are considered equivalent to brand-name products. In many states, a pharmacist may not dispense a generic in place of a brand-name medication unless the FDA has rated the products to be equivalent. Because prenatal vitamins do not have equivalence ratings, technically, no generic prenatal vitamin is equivalent to any brand-name prenatal vitamin (including Citracal Prenatal + DHA).
 
However, depending on state laws (and how your healthcare provider writes your prescription), your pharmacist may substitute a generic prenatal vitamin that is similar to the brand-name product. At this time, there are a few other prenatal vitamins (both generic and brand-name) that are similar to Citracal Prenatal + DHA.
 
(Generic Citracal Prenatal + DHA Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;