VITAMIN C (Ascorbic Acid)

Brand & Generic Names

Ascorbicap
Cecon
Cemill
Cenolate
Cetane
Cevalin
Cevi-Bid
Ce-Vi-Sol
Cevita
C-Span
Flavorcee
Redoxon
Sunkist
Numerous other multiple vitam	in-mineral supplements.

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? No
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Vitamin supplement

Uses

• Prevention and treatment of scurvy and other vitamin-C deficiencies.
• Treatment of anemia.
• Maintenance of acid urine.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablets, capsules, liquid--Swallow with 8 oz. water.
Extended-release tablets--Swallow whole.
Drops--Squirt directly into mouth or mix with liquid or food.
Chewable tablets--Chew well before swallowing.

When to take:
1, 2 or 3 times per day, as prescribed on label.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember, then return to regular schedule.

What drug does:
May help form collagen.
Increases iron absorption from intestine.
Contributes to hemoglobin and red blood cell production in bone marrow.

Time lapse before drug works:
1 week.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

None expected.

Infrequent:

• Mild diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
• Flushed face.

Rare:

• Kidney stones with high doses, anemia, abdominal pain.
• Headache.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to vitamin C.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have sickle-cell or other anemia.
• If you have had kidney stones.
• If you have gout.

Over age 60:
Don't take more than 100 mg. per day unless prescribed by your doctor.

Pregnancy:
No proven harm to unborn child. Avoid large doses. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Avoid large doses. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:

• Avoid large doses.
• Keep vitamin-mineral supplements out of children's reach.

Prolonged use:
Large doses for longer than 2 months may cause kidney stones.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No problems expected.

Others:

• Store in cool, dry place.
• May cause inaccurate tests for sugar in urine or blood in stool.
• May cause crisis in patients with sickle-cell anemia.
• A balanced diet should provide all the vitamin C a healthy person needs and make supplements unnecessary. Best sources are citrus, strawberries, cantaloupe and raw peppers.
• Don't take large doses of vitamin C (1,000 mg. or more per day) unless prescribed by your doctor.
• Some products contain tartrazine dye. Avoid, if allergic (especially aspirin hypersensitivity).

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Amphetamines*	Possible decreased amphetamine
	effect.
Anticholinergics*	Possible decreased anticholinergic
	effect.
Anticoagulants*,	Possible decreased anticoagulant
oral	effect.
Antidepressants,	Possible decreased antidepressant
tricyclic (TCA)*	effect.
Aspirin	Decreased vitamin C effect and
	salicylate excretion.
Barbiturates*	Decreased vitamin C effect.
	Increased barbiturate effect.
Cellulose sodium phosphate	Decreased vitamin C effect.
Contraceptives*,	Decreased vitamin C
oral	effect.
Estrogens*	Increased likelihood of adverse
	effects from estrogen with 1 gm or
	more of vitamin C per day.
Iron supplements*	Increased iron absorption.
Mexiletine	Possible decreased effectiveness of
	mexiletine.
Quinidine	Possible decreased quinidine
	effect.
Salicylates*	Decreased vitamin C effect and
	salicylate excretion. May lead to
	salicylate toxicity.
Tranquilizers*	May decrease phenothiazine effect
(phenothiazine)	if no vitamin C deficiency exists.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	Increased requirement for
	vitamin C.