Hi Girls,

I have a question for you all. Are you taking prenatal vitamins from Counter or Did your doctor prescribed them to you. First I bought them from Walgreens and I am still taking them. During my first visit, I asked my doc for prescription she said, counter ones are fine. When I insisted she did give the prescription but was just written as \";Prenatal Vitamins\";. No specific brand. I am about complete my tablets and before refilling just wanted to check you all. Please do let me know what brand vitamins are you taking.

Thanks,
Anu.
Manisha replied. Hi all

I started taking it a month before getting pregnant, that was the sample given by the doc of 'Prenate GT', yes it is a stool softener too, and I liked it also. The doctor gave me a prescription of 'PrenateGT', but the walgreens gave me the Generic for that, not the counter ones but with prescription. That generic ones are Ethex brand, which has same compositon as 'Prenate GT' except the stool softner. I didn't like Ethex as much as Prenate GT, and its not coated also. Then I talked to the doc, and he gave me samples of PreCare(Chewables). Since then I am taking PreCare.
I have a question from you - When you buy any specific brand from Walgreens or CVS, do they give you the same brand, and how do they charge for that? They say according to Cigna Healthcare Insurance, they are supposed to give the generic for that. Do the doc write 'No Substitution' with the brand name on your prescription? Please tell me in detail.
Thanks
Manisha Susan replied. Hi,
Three months before my pregnancy I used to take prenatals prescribed by my dr which was known as prenatal vitamins (no specific brand like u mentioned). But those prenatals should be taken on an empty stomach and that used to be a problem for me cause I never remembered to take them on an empty stomach as I was used to having any type of medications after lunch/dinner and so I always used to miss the tablets. Then I started using Eckerd brand prenatals (in that box it is specifically mentioned to be taken by pregnant or lactating women) and asked my ob/gyn and she said its fine. I am using Eckerd brand prenatals since more than 6 months now. So I guess over the counter prenatals r fine (provided ur dr. approves). Bargavi replied. Anu
I never took anything off the counter. Initially I took PreCare Prenatal, now I take Primacare now.
Check with ur doctor, or as Radhika suggested, take this bottle and show it to the doc.
Bargavi Radhika replied. Initially before i got the first app. with the doc. took prenatal vitamins from the cvs store. Took the bottle to the doctor he said it was ok i can continue the counter prenatal vitamins..but the nurse had prescribed \";Prenate GT\"; which was a stool softener..don't know if it helps u though u do need a presciption to get it. Its a prenatal vitamin plus avoids constipation..so took that once i got it from the pharmacy ..second time the nurse gave a whole bunch of same prescribed pills free.
Ask the nurse to give u a prescription,
we had our first meeting with a nurse who asked all details of our past med. history,etc...so we have always asked her to write a new presciption when we need to buy more..
If u cannot get it, read the ingriedients of ur bottle and see that it gives the listed amount of folic acid and iron (2 important needs which nurse stressed we needed.). If u are still concerned, take the bottle to the doctor so he can go thru' it and if he approves, it should be fine.