Generic Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Common use

Ascorbic acid is Vitamin C and an organic compound. It is found in many fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is water soluble and cannot be stored in a body, so its deficiency should be replenished daily. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It plays an important role in the regulation of oxidation-reduction processes, it is involved in the synthesis of collagen and procollagen, metabolism of folic acid and iron, as well as in the synthesis of steroid hormones and catecholamines. Ascorbic acid also regulates blood coagulation and normalizes permeability of capillaries, is important for hemopoiesis, has anti-inflammatory and antiallergic effect. Vitamin C protects the organism from consequences of stress. It enhances the processes of reparation, increases resistance to infection, reduces effects of different allergens. Vitamin C is a factor in protecting the organism of effects of stress. Enhances the repair processes, increase resistance to infection. Reduces the effects of different allergens. There are many theoretical and experimental prerequisites to use Vitamin C for prevention cancer. It is known that the patients with cancer often develop symptoms of vitamin deficiency.



Dosage and direction

Take Vitamin C exactly as prescribed. Infants under 1 year of age need 30-35 mg daily. Babies between 1-3 eyars need 40 mg, children between 4-10 years do 45 mg daily, pregnant and breastfeeding women need 75-90 mg daily and smokers do 100 mg of it daily.



Precautions

Discuss with your doctor about conditions you have had such as: kidney disease, kidney stones in history, liver disease (especially cirrhosis), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) deficiency (ascorbic acid may cause desintegration of erythrocytes in such patients), if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or breastfeeding (ascorbic acid may cause fetus addiction to it) . Risk of damage to kidney increases when ascorbic acid is used together with other medication harmful to the kidneys. Inform your doctor if you are currently receiving chemotherapy, get medicament treatment for a bowel disorder, to prevent organ transplant rejection, take antiviral medications, painkillers, anti-arthritis drugs, or any injected antibiotics, because you may need dose adjustments. Discontinue intake of ascorbic acid and notify your doctor if you have severe pain in your lower back or side, bloody urine, painful urination, severe diarrhea, or feel like you might pass out.



Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.



Possible side effect

If these adverse reactions become serious or bothersome call your doctor: severe pain in your lower back or side, bloody urination, painful urination, severe or ongoing diarrhea, or feeling like you might pass out.



Drug interaction

Concomitant use of ascorbic acid and aspirin may irritate stomach and lead to its ulceration. Aspirin also increases excretion of ascorbic acid by the kidneys which may result in decrease of blood concentration of ascorbic acid. Blood levels of aluminum and its toxicity may increase due to ascorbic acid. Avoid taking medications which contain aluminum. Big doses of ascorbic acid may decrease ability of the organism to assimilate vitamine ÷12 from food ad food supplements.



Missed dose

Never take a double dose of this medication. If it is almost time of the next dose just skip the missed portion and continue to take the medicine according to the schedule.



Overdose

Life-threatening symptoms are not expected because of ascorbic acid overdose. The most common side effect is diarrhea. Call your doctor if you took too much of the drug.



Storage

Ascorbic acid should be stored at room temperature between 15-30 C (59-86 F).



Disclaimer

We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.