TheraNatal® Complete Prenatal Vitamins (91-day supply)

Q. How is TheraNatal Complete different from most other prenatals?

TheraNatal Complete is independently tested and certified by NSF® International for content accuracy, purity, and freedom from contaminants. The DHA softgel is also tested and certified by the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) program for freedom from mercury, PCBs, and other contaminants.

TheraNatal Complete is the most comprehensive prenatal. It contains 250 mg of choline, a nutrient that promotes your baby’s brain and neural tube development,* and 48 mg of vitamin B6 to help with stomach upset.* TheraNatal Complete also contains 300 mg of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and 60 mg of EPA, 220 mcg of iodine, 27 mg of iron, and 75 mcg (3,000 IU) of vitamin D3 to promote an optimal vitamin D level during pregnancy.*

Q. How is TheraNatal Complete different from most other prenatals?

TheraNatal Complete is independently tested and certified by NSF^® International for content accuracy, purity and freedom from contaminants. The DHA softgel is also tested and certified by the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) program for freedom from mercury, PCBs, and other contaminants.

TheraNatal Complete is the most comprehensive prenatal. It contains 250 mg of choline, a nutrient that promotes your baby’s brain and neural tube development,* and 48 mg of vitamin B₆ to help with stomach upset.* TheraNatal Complete also contains 300 mg of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and 60 mg of EPA, 220 mcg of iodine, 27 mg of iron, and 75 mcg (3,000 IU) of vitamin D3 to promote an optimal vitamin D level during pregnancy.*

TheraNatal products use only natural coatings – without artificial dyes or titanium dioxide. For this reason, some of the nutrients [such as choline and iron] may be visible through the light, natural coating, giving the tablets a speckled appearance. This is completely normal.

Q. Can I start taking TheraNatal Complete before I am pregnant?

Yes. While the 27 mg of iron and 300 mg of DHA in TheraNatal Complete are most important once you are already pregnant (in particular, for the second and third trimesters), it is safe to take these amounts while you are trying to conceive.

Q. Can I continue taking TheraNatal Complete after pregnancy?

You can, however, it is not recommended for long-term use after pregnancy. In general, women can finish taking any remaining TheraNatal Complete after pregnancy.

If you are planning to breastfeed, TheraNatal Lactation products are specifically formulated to meet your unique nutrients needs while breastfeeding. If you will be breastfeeding for at least several months, it is better to switch to TheraNatal Lactation Complete while breastfeeding instead of continuing with TheraNatal Complete.

If you are NOT planning to breastfeed, you can switch to a women's multivitamin like Essentia once you finish taking TheraNatal Complete.

Q. What is the source of DHA in TheraNatal Complete?

TheraNatal Complete contains 300 mg of DHA from AlaskOmega®, a refined omega-3 fish oil concentrate made from fish that has met the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) standard for sustainability. This high-quality fish oil is molecularly distilled, highly purified, and sourced from wild Alaskan pollock.

Every batch of DHA softgels in TheraNatal Complete is tested for freedom from contaminants such as mercury, lead, and PCBs by the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Program. The DHA softgels in TheraNatal Complete have received the highest rating of 5 stars from IFOS, which indicates exceptional quality, purity, and safety.

Q: Can I take TheraNatal Complete if I'm allergic to shellfish?

Yes. There is no shellfish in TheraNatal Complete. If you have reacted to radiocontrast material or antiseptics which contain iodine, you may still be able to safely take TheraNatal Complete even though it contains iodine. These reactions are commonly confused with sensitivity to iodine or shellfish, though studies have shown that they are not related.

Q: Can I take TheraNatal Complete if I'm allergic to fish?

If you are allergic to fish, the highly purified fish oil in the softgel, which is derived from Alaskan pollock, may not be safe for you. Consult your allergist before taking TheraNatal Complete DHA softgel.

Q. Can I take other nutritional supplements along with TheraNatal Complete?

Yes. Certain other supplements can be taken along with TheraNatal Complete (such as single-nutrient supplements like calcium). However, do not take any type of multivitamin or other prenatal while taking TheraNatal Complete.

Q. Does TheraNatal Complete interact with any prescription medications?

As with any dietary supplement, it is recommended you discuss with your pharmacist and or health care team to clarify whether TheraNatal Complete can be taken along with your medications.

Medications that are changed by the liver Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP34) substrates (lovastatin, clarithromycin, estrogens and others) - CYP34 are important enzymes in your body, mainly found in the liver to break down medications in the body. Vitamin D may increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking TheraNatal Complete, which contains 75 mcg (3,000 IU) vitamin D, along with some medications may decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking TheraNatal Complete, talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you are taking medications that are changed by the liver.

TheraNatal Complete may also affect the absorption of certain prescription medications as follows:

Antibiotics: Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc (in TheraNatal Complete) can bind to antibiotics in the stomach and reduce their absorption and effectiveness. Depending on the antibiotic prescribed, you may need to separate taking any multivitamins from antibiotics by at least 2 to possibly 6 hours or discontinue taking a multivitamin while taking the antibiotic. Please discuss with your pharmacist and healthcare team to determine if you should stop taking your multivitamin for a short period of time.

• • Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen) – Separate by 2 hours
• • Cephalexin (Keflex) – Separate by 3 hours
• • Tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline, demeclocycline)- Separate by 4 hours
• • Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), Moxifloxacin (Avelox) – Separate by 6 hours

Antihypertensive drugs (captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL), furosemide (Lasix), and many others): Take TheraNatal Complete which contains DHA and EPA from fish oil with medications that lower blood pressure may increase the effects of these medications and may lower blood pressure even more. Take separate by at least 2 hours.

Antiplatelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid)): These medications prevent blood clots by slowing blood clotting. Taking TheraNatal Complete which contains DHA and EPA from fish oil which along with these medications may increase the risk of bleeding. However, most research shows that fish oil does not increase bleeding. Until more is known, be watchful if combining with medications that slow blood clotting.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - This medication helps control cholesterol levels in the body. Taking it with TheraNatal Complete, which contains 75 mcg (3,000 IU) of vitamin D, may decrease the amount of atorvastatin absorbed by the body. Separate by a minimum of 2 hours

High Blood Pressure Medications (captopril, enalapril, losartan, valsartan, diltiazem, amlodipine, quinapril, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide): Iron and magnesium (in TheraNatal Complete) can affect absorption of this specific antihypertensive medication. Separate by 2 hours.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)– This medication helps the heart beat more strongly. Taking magnesium (in TheraNatal Complete) at the same time as this medication may decrease the absorption of this medication, therefore, decreasing the effectiveness. Separate by 2 hours.

Dilantin (phenytoin) – This medication is an anti-epileptic drug used to control seizures. Calcium and magnesium (in TheraNatal Complete) can affect absorption of this antiepileptic medication. Separate by 2 hours.

Oral Bisphosphonates (i.e., alendronate (Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), risedronate (Actonel), ibandronate (Boniva), tiludronate (Skelid))– These medications alter bone formation and breakdown in the body, slowing down bone loss and helping to prevent bone fractures. Taking magnesium, calcium and or iron (in TheraNatal Complete) along these medications can decrease how much bisphosphate the body absorbs. Separate by 2 hours.

Sotalol (Betapace))- This medication helps the heartbeat normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders. Calcium and magnesium (in TheraNatal Complete) can affect absorption of this antiarrhythmic medication. Separate by at least 2 hours.

Thiazide diuretics (aka: water pills) – These medications are used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure as well as the accumulation of fluid and swelling (edema) in the body. These medications also increase the amount of calcium in the body. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Taking TheraNatal Complete, which contains 75 mcg (3,000 IU) vitamin D, along with these medications may cause too much calcium in the body.

Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine, Synthroid) - This medication is used to treat an underactive thyroid gland. Iron, calcium, and magnesium (in TheraNatal Complete) can reduce absorption of these thyroid hormone medications. Separate by at least 4 hours.

Warfarin (coumadin) - Studies show that low-dose vitamin K (100 mcg) is unlikely to affect INR and may actually help to stabilize INR levels. TheraNatal Complete contains 90 mcg of vitamin K and should be safe to take.

If you still have questions about TheraNatal Complete, please visit the general FAQ page.

Feel free to reach out to the Nutrition Department by phone at (888) 899-3899 ext. 2 or by email here.