Folate, absorption antagonists

Many drugs interact with folate to affect its absorption, antagonize its biochemical activity, or increase its loss from the body. These drugs include ethanol, phenytoin, and oral contraceptives. Salicylates can compete with foUc acid for plasma protein binding. Methotrexate, a cytotoxic agent, is a folate antagonist that inhibits the biosynthesis of this coenzyme. 

Drugs. Antiepilepsy drugs, particularly phenytoin, primidone and phenobarbital, occasionally cause a macrocytic anaemia that responds to folic acid. This may be due to enzyme induction by the antiepileptics increasing the need for folic acid to perform hydroxylation reactions (see Epilepsy) but other factors such as reduced absorption may be involved. Administration of folic acid causes a recurrence of seizures in some patients. Some anti-malarials, e.g. pyrimethamine, may interfere with conversion of folates to the active tetrahydrofolic acid, causing macrocytic anaemia. Methotrexate, another folate antagonist, may cause a megaloblastic anaemia especially when used long-term for leukaemia, rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis. 

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