Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) is indicated for:

• Prevention and treatment of scurvy
• Supporting the healing of wounds and fractures
• Promoting collagen formation in connective tissues
• Enhancing iron absorption and assisting in the management of anemia
• Contributing to hemoglobin production and red blood cell formation in bone marrow
• Helping prevent various viral and bacterial infections and strengthening immune function
• Assisting in the treatment and prevention of the common cold
• Maintaining healthy capillaries, gums, and teeth
• Use medicines according to the advice of a registered physician.

This preparation contains Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), an essential nutrient that cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must be obtained through diet or supplementation. Ascorbic Acid performs numerous important physiological functions. It is necessary for tissue growth and repair, adrenal gland function, enhanced immunity, and maintaining healthy gums. As an antioxidant, it helps protect the body against harmful pollutants, infections, and cellular damage. As a coenzyme, it is involved in wound healing, drug metabolism, and the metabolism of cholesterol and folic acid. As an essential nutrient, Vitamin C supports healthy skin and hair, strengthens the immune system, and helps maintain overall well-being.

Oral tablet administration:

• For the prevention of scurvy: 1 tablet daily
• For the treatment of scurvy: 1-2 tablets daily; but dose may be increased depending on the severity of the condition.
• For the reduction of risk of stroke in the elderly: 1-2 tablets daily.
• In other cases: 1 tablet daily or as directed by the physician.
• Maximum safe dose is 2000 mg daily in divided doses.

Oral sachet administration: 1 sachet daily or as directed by registered physician. Maximum Dose: 2000 mg/day (4 sachets/day).

Parenteral administration:

• Vitamin C is usually administered orally. When oral administration is not feasible or when malabsorption is suspected, the drug may be administered IM, IV, or subcutaneously. When given parenterally, utilization of the vitamin reportedly is best after IM administration and that is the preferred parenteral route.
• For intravenous injection, dilution into a large volume parenteral such as Normal Saline, Water for Injection, or Glucose is recommended to minimize the adverse reactions associated with intravenous injection.
• The average protective dose of vitamin C for adults is 70 to 150 mg daily. In the presence of scurvy, doses of 300 mg to 1 g daily are recommended. However, as much as 6 g has been administered parenterally to normal adults without evidence of toxicity.
• To enhance wound healing, doses of 300 to 500 mg daily for a week or ten days both preoperatively and postoperatively are generally considered adequate, although considerably larger amounts have been recommended. In the treatment of burns, doses are governed by the extent of tissue injury. For severe burns, daily doses of 1 to 2 g are recommended. In other conditions in which the need for vitamin C is increased, three to five times the daily optimum allowances appear to be adequate.
• Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever the solution and container permit.

Potentially hazardous interactions: Ascorbic acid may be incompatible in solution with aminophylline, bleomycin, erythromycin lactobionate, nafcillin, nitrofurantoin sodium, conjugated estrogen, sodium bicarbonate, sulphafurazole diethanolamine, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, chlorothiazide sodium, and hydrocortisone sodium succinate.

Useful interactions: Ascorbic acid may prolong the apparent half-life of paracetamol and improve iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Vitamin C has low toxicity; however, excessive doses may cause diarrhea, abdominal bloating, excessive iron absorption in patients with thalassaemia, sideroblastic anemia, or haemochromatosis, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Pregnant women taking more than 5 g daily may be at risk of fetal abortion.

Vitamin C is considered safe in normal doses during pregnancy. However, daily intake of 5 g or more has been associated with abortion. The drug can be used safely during lactation.

Use of megadoses of vitamin C (more than 1000 mg daily) during pregnancy may result in scurvy in newborns. High doses of vitamin C are contraindicated in patients with hyperoxaluria. Ascorbic acid is a reducing agent in redox reactions and may produce false-positive results in certain laboratory tests for glucose, uric acid, creatinine, and occult blood.

Vitamin-C Preparations

Store in a dry place below 30°C.