New Obimin Tablet

New Obimin Tablet is a film-coated vitamin and mineral supplement for pregnant and lactating women, taken as one tablet a day. It combines nine vitamins with iron, calcium, copper and iodine in a single tablet, and this listing is for a pack of 30 tablets, a one-month supply at the recommended serving.

The key nutrients in each tablet are folic acid 0.9mg (900mcg), iron 30mg as ferrous fumarate and iodine 100mcg as potassium iodide, alongside vitamin D 400 IU, vitamin C 100mg and vitamin A 3000 IU. Folate contributes to normal maternal tissue growth in pregnancy, iron is involved in normal haemoglobin and red blood cell formation as the mother’s blood volume increases, and iodine is needed for normal thyroid hormone production. The tablet also provides a strong B-vitamin profile, including vitamin B1 8.1mg, vitamin B6 12.34mg, vitamin B12 4mcg, vitamin B2, niacinamide and pantothenic acid, which take part in normal energy metabolism.

New Obimin does not contain fish oil or DHA, and its calcium content (32.5mg as calcium lactate) is small compared with the daily calcium needs of pregnancy, so most women will still rely on dairy, other calcium-rich foods or a separate calcium product recommended by their doctor. It is designed to complement a balanced diet and routine antenatal care rather than replace either, and your doctor may adjust your supplements based on your blood tests.

Take one tablet daily with a glass of water. Swallow the film-coated tablet whole. It can be taken with or without food; if you feel nauseated or have stomach discomfort, take it after a meal.

For better iron absorption, avoid taking the tablet together with tea, coffee, milk or a separate calcium supplement; allow a gap of about 2 hours. A drink or food rich in vitamin C, such as orange or guava, taken at the same time may help.

Pregnant and lactating women: 1 tablet once daily, or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take more than one tablet a day. Each tablet contains 900mcg of folic acid and 30mg of iron, so adding another prenatal multivitamin or a separate folic acid or iron product may lead to excessive intake unless your doctor has planned it. A missed tablet can be taken when you remember on the same day; otherwise skip it and continue the next day without doubling up.

Refer to the expiry date printed on the product packaging. Do not take tablets that are past their expiry date or that are discoloured or crumbling.

Store as stated on the product label. Keep the tablets in their original packaging in a cool, dry place, protected from direct sunlight and moisture, and avoid storing them in humid places such as the bathroom. As this product contains iron, keep it out of reach of children.

• Common: Mild nausea or stomach discomfort, especially if taken on an empty stomach.
• Common: Constipation or, less often, loose stools due to the iron content.
• Common: Darkening of the stools, which is expected with iron and harmless.
• Common: Temporary yellow colouring of the urine from vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
• Serious: Allergic reactions such as hives, swelling of the face or throat, or breathing difficulty; stop taking the tablets and get medical help immediately.
• Serious: Iron poisoning if several tablets are swallowed, particularly by young children; symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea or drowsiness need emergency care.

• Do not take if you are allergic to any ingredient in the tablet.
• Avoid if you have an iron overload disorder (such as haemochromatosis or haemosiderosis), unless your doctor advises otherwise.
• Not for use to self-treat undiagnosed anaemia; anaemia from vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia) requires medical diagnosis, as folic acid can mask it.
• Not intended for children.

• Levothyroxine: iron and calcium can reduce how much thyroid medicine is absorbed; separate the doses by at least 4 hours.
• Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics (e.g. doxycycline, ciprofloxacin): iron reduces their absorption; take the antibiotic at least 2 hours before or 4–6 hours after this tablet.
• Antacids and acid-reducing medicines: may lower iron absorption; take them at a different time of day.
• Phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate or methotrexate: folic acid may interact with these medicines; speak to your doctor before starting.
• Other vitamin and mineral products: avoid doubling up on folic acid, iron or vitamin A from other supplements, including separate folic acid tablets, unless your doctor recommends it.
• Food and drinks: tea, coffee, milk and calcium-rich foods taken at the same time reduce iron absorption, while vitamin C-rich foods can enhance it.

• Pick a fixed daily time, such as after dinner, so the tablet fits easily into your routine.
• Keep your morning tea or coffee at least 2 hours apart from your tablet.
• This tablet does not provide DHA; ask your doctor whether you need omega-3 from fish in your diet or a separate supplement.
• Calcium in each tablet is low, so continue to include milk, yoghurt, tofu or other calcium-rich foods in your meals.
• Bring the pack to your antenatal check-ups so your doctor can review all your supplements and blood test results together.
• Store the tablets out of reach of children, as iron supplements can be very dangerous if swallowed by them.

Precautions: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control centre immediately. Each tablet provides 900mcg of folic acid and 3000 IU of vitamin A, so avoid adding other folic acid or vitamin A supplements, fish liver oil or high-dose vitamin A products unless your doctor advises it. Women with thyroid disease should mention the iodine content to their doctor, and those with a vegetarian or vegan diet may need their vitamin B12 levels checked.

When to See a Doctor or Pharmacist: Before starting if you take thyroid medicine, antibiotics, antiepileptics or methotrexate, or if you already take other prenatal, iron or folic acid supplements. Get medical advice if you develop ongoing constipation or stomach pain, black tarry stools with dizziness, persistent vomiting or signs of an allergic reaction, and seek emergency care immediately if a child swallows any tablets.