Multiple Vitamins/Minerals, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat deficiency caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, or digestive problems. 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: multivitamin

Generic and brand names: multiple vitamins and minerals, oral; ADEKs; Calcet; Centrum; ICAPS Plus; ICAPS Time Release; One A Day Essentials; Optivite P.M.T.; Therapeutic-M; Ultra Freeda Iron Free; Unicap M; Unicap SR; Unicap T (There may be other brand names for this medicine).

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used when you do not get enough vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. Multivitamins and minerals are used to treat deficiency caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, or digestive problems.

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 this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Bleeding problems or a blood disorder
• Kidney stones or kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Phenylketonuria (PKU). Chewable tablets may contain phenylalanine.

Some multivitamins and minerals may affect other treatments or medical conditions. Do not start taking a vitamin or mineral without first talking to your healthcare provider. If you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin, do not take a multivitamin that includes Vitamin K without your provider’s approval.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Taking more of it or taking it more often than directed may cause side effects.

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

Follow your provider’s instructions about diet while taking this medicine. Take this medicine with food to lessen stomach upset. Also take it with a full glass of water.

This medicine may come as tablets, capsules, chewable tablets, or in a liquid form. Chew the chewable tablets completely before swallowing. For the liquid forms, use the measuring spoon, cup, dropper, or oral syringe that comes with the medicine, or ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen spoon because the dose may not be correct.

Do not take calcium supplements, antacids that contain calcium, or foods rich in calcium (milk, cheese, yogurt) within 2 hours of taking this medicine. Calcium may make it harder for your body to absorb certain ingredients of the multivitamin.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you need to take other medicines at different times from when you take this supplement. Some medicines may not work correctly if you take them at the same time.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, contact 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: stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blood in your urine, severe nausea, bloody diarrhea, black tarry bowel movements, vomiting blood, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, severe headache, confusion, numbness or tingling, weakness, flushing, fainting, cold clammy skin, blue lips, seizures.

What should I watch out for?

Be very careful to keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Small amounts can poison small children. If a child has taken this medicine, contact a poison control center right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this 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.): Black tarry bowel movements, diarrhea, bloody vomit, unusual tiredness or drowsiness, fainting, breathing problems, tremors, watery eyes, weakness, chest pain, fast or slow heartbeat.

Other: Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, dark yellow urine.

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, other 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, calcium, or magnesium, such as Gaviscon, Maalox, Mylanta, Phillips' Chewable Tablets, Rolaids, or TUMS (Take antacids at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), doxycycline (Doryx, Monodox, Vibramycin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn), ofloxacin, and tetracycline (Take antibiotics at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after you take this medicine or as directed by your healthcare provider or pharmacist.)
• Calcium or iron supplements (take at least 2 hours before or after you take this medicine)
• Levodopa/carbidopa (Duopa, Rytary, Sinemet) (Take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Levothyroxine (Levo-T, Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid)
• Methyldopa (Take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen) (Take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Trientine (Syprine) (Take 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take this medicine.)
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in large doses

Multivitamins and minerals may also interact with other medicines. Check with your healthcare provider before taking a multivitamin with minerals if you are taking other medicines.

Do not take other vitamin or mineral products while you are taking this product without your healthcare provider's approval. Large amounts of some vitamins and minerals can be harmful.

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.

How should I store this medicine?

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

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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.