Is the more expensive prenatal vitamin really worth it?

[Anonymous]

My OB said that I could use the prescription ones if I wanted (people either use them b/c of the prescription coverage or b/c a particular one is easier to tolerate) but that an OTC one was just fine. I ended up with the Safeway brand, which I could keep down fine, and a drugstore DHA supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that matters to me is the DHA pill that comes with it. I usually buy the 2-bottle package; one prenatal multivitamin, one bottle is dha. When I went cheap, the dha pills had an awful fishy aftertaste that made me want to gag. It also caused fishy burps. So disgusting. So I do think that the way the pills are made makes a big difference.

I bought the CVS ones specifically because the DHA is not made from fish oil. No aftertaste.

[Anonymous]

I just started OB Complete Petite with DHA. My co-pay is $35 for 90-days, so comparable to $12/month OTC.

OP - Are you paying $50 for a 90-day supply? If so, I don't think it's that bad... but have them call in the right one.

The reason I'm doing prescription is because I couldn't find an OTC that didn't make me sick. I'm really nauseous and the smell of the OTC pills made me gag, let alone the taste of swallowing them. I couldn't take it.

[Anonymous]

I took a prescription prenatal (brand) with DHA throughout my IVF cycles mainly because my RE suggested one. I found out towards the end of cycling that the brand version of my vitamin had changed. The pharmacist told me that they had slightly changed the ingredients and, as a result, there was no exact generic equivalent available. The pharmacist said the generic was just as good, as were some of the OTCs. I ended up taking generic prenatals ($5/month) throughout my pregnancy without any regrets. I now take OTC and wouldn't change if pregnant again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just started OB Complete Petite with DHA. My co-pay is $35 for 90-days, so comparable to $12/month OTC.

OP - Are you paying $50 for a 90-day supply? If so, I don't think it's that bad... but have them call in the right one.

The reason I'm doing prescription is because I couldn't find an OTC that didn't make me sick. I'm really nauseous and the smell of the OTC pills made me gag, let alone the taste of swallowing them. I couldn't take it.

I'm paying $50 for a 30 day supply of OB complete with DHA. Pretty ridiculous, huh?

[Anonymous]

Yea - that's ridiculous. My OB also told me I could take a mulit-vitamin that's easy on my stomach plus a DHA supplement.

[Anonymous]

My OB gave me a prescription and my insurance didnt cover it. When I asked him for another my prescription would cover... he told me to just use OTC they are all the same. You dont want to go with a no name brand... but CVS and other generic large brands are fine --- they have a standard to maintain. I now use the CVS multi and 2nd pill w DHA. I checked the ingredients against other brand names and the formulation is exactly the same. Sometimes 1 pill may not have 100% of the listed vitamin per consumer testing, but if you take the pill over time as directed (ie for 1 full month) you will get the amount you expect (ie 1 may have less and then the next pill will have more so it evens out.) Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

PP...I mean, my insurance would cover.

[Anonymous]

OP - just found a $20 off coupon for OB complete. Good for your first prescription and up to 10 refills. Maybe that would help offset the cost if you like the vitamin.

http://www.verticalpharma.com/products/coupon/ob-complete-one-coupon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - just found a $20 off coupon for OB complete. Good for your first prescription and up to 10 refills. Maybe that would help offset the cost if you like the vitamin.

http://www.verticalpharma.com/products/coupon/ob-complete-one-coupon

Thank you!!