Q: I am a 29 years old woman and four months pregnant. My Hb is 13.4 g/dl and till now all results are normal. I have been advised Sandocal and Feronine along with Thrive G tablets. Is it advisable to continue with Thrive G and till when? Another doctor has recommended Livogen and Sandocal and told to discontinue Thrive G. Please advise.

A:You just need one medicine i.e. Ferronine that contains iron and folic acid daily till labour. Folic acid prevents birth defects. Only good diet and milk is vital and adequate. No other drug is required and in fact overdosage of calcium (Sandocal) can cause side effects such as crystals in urine and kidney stones. Livogen among other medicines also contains iron and folic acid (also present in Ferronine; hence it will be duplication); Thrive G contains sub-therapeutic doses of zinc and calcium along with minute, sub-therapeutic doses of vitamins and minerals, which do little good.