Ascorbic Acid, Oral/Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth or given by injection to prevent problems caused by lack of Vitamin C. Take it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vitamin

Generic and brand names: ascorbic acid, oral; ascorbic acid, injection; vitamin C; Acerola-C; Ascor L; Emergen-C; Ester-C; N'ice Vitamin C Drops; Sunkist Vitamin C; Vicks Vitamin C; Vita-C (There may be other brand names for this medicine.)

What is this medicine used for?

Ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C, is needed for general good health and strong bones and teeth. Lack of vitamin C in your diet can cause scurvy, a disease that affects the muscles, teeth, and gums. Wounds heal slowly when you don't get enough vitamin C.

Claims that vitamin C cures certain illnesses such as the common cold have not been proven. If you have any questions about your need for this vitamin, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking ascorbic acid, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• A blood disorder such as anemia or G6PD
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease or kidney stones

Tell your provider if you smoke. Smoking cigarettes can affect how this medicine works. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you are on a low-sodium diet. Some vitamin C products contain sodium.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider’s approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you know when to take the medicine and how much medicine you should take. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. If your healthcare provider has not given you specific instructions, follow the directions that come with the medicine package. Do not take more or take it longer than prescribed.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children. Some brands should not be used in children under a certain age.

Vitamin C is not stored by your body; any extra is lost through urination. Too much vitamin C in the urine may cause stones to develop in the urinary tract. Take large doses of this vitamin only if your healthcare provider approves. Do not suddenly stop taking very large doses of vitamin C unless your healthcare provider approves. You may need to gradually reduce the dosage. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

This medicine comes in many different forms, such as extended-release capsules and tablets, lozenges, syrup, chewable tablets, and liquid drops. You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Vitamin C drops can be mixed with water or fruit juice.

If you have extended-release tablets or capsules, do not break, crush, or chew them. Swallow them whole. Ask your pharmacist if you have the extended-release form of this medicine.

The injection form of this medicine will be given by your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take vitamin C within 48 to 72 hours before you are tested for blood in your bowel movements. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

If you have diabetes: This medicine may affect urine sugar test results. Talk to your healthcare provider before you change your diet or dosage of diabetes medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Sharp, cramping pain in the back and side in the area of the kidney; painful urination; blood in your urine; severe or constant diarrhea; nausea; vomiting.

Other: Mild headache, mild diarrhea, heartburn, flushing, trouble sleeping, pain or irritation at the injection site.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Antacids that contain aluminum, such as Gaviscon, Maalox, and Mylanta
• Aspirin and other salicylates
• Bortezomib (Velcade)
• Deferoxamine (Desferal)
• Iron supplements or multivitamins that contain iron, and iron medicines such as ferric carboxymaltose (Injectafer), ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit), ferumoxytol (Feraheme), and iron sucrose (Venofer)
• Natural remedies such as acerola and rosehips
• Warfarin (Coumadin)

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.