Mega-C (Oral)

Vitamins are substances that your body needs for growth and health. You only need them in small amounts, and they are usually found in the foods you eat. Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is important for healing wounds. It helps your body use carbohydrates, fats, and protein and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Not getting enough vitamin C can lead to scurvy. This can cause muscle weakness, swollen and bleeding gums, loss of teeth, bleeding under the skin, tiredness, and depression. Wounds may also take longer to heal. Your health care professional may prescribe vitamin C if you have scurvy.

Certain conditions may increase your need for vitamin C, including:

• AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
• Alcoholism
• Burns
• Cancer
• Diarrhea (prolonged)
• Fever (prolonged)
• Infection (prolonged)
• Intestinal diseases
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Stomach ulcer
• Stress (continuing)
• Surgical removal of stomach
• Tuberculosis

Some groups of people may also be at risk for vitamin C deficiency:

• Infants receiving unfortified formulas
• Smokers
• Patients using an artificial kidney (on hemodialysis)
• Patients who undergo surgery
• Individuals exposed to long periods of cold temperatures

Your health care professional should determine if you need more vitamin C.

Vitamin C may also be used for other conditions as decided by your health care professional.

There is no proof that vitamin C prevents senility or the common cold, or treats asthma, some mental health issues, cancer, hardening of the arteries, allergies, eye ulcers, blood clots, gum disease, and pressure sores. Although vitamin C is used to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, there is not enough evidence to confirm these uses are effective.

Injectable vitamin C is given by or under the supervision of a health care professional. Other forms of vitamin C can be obtained without a prescription.

For good health, it is important to eat a balanced and varied diet. Carefully follow any diet plan your health care professional recommends. If you think you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, you may consider taking a dietary supplement.

Vitamin C is found in many foods, including citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), green vegetables (peppers, broccoli, cabbage), tomatoes, and potatoes. It's best to eat fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you can, as they have the most vitamins. Food processing can destroy some vitamins. For instance, exposure to air, drying, salting, or cooking (especially in copper pots), chopping fresh vegetables, or mashing potatoes can reduce the vitamin C content in foods. Freezing typically does not result in loss of vitamin C unless foods are stored for a very long time.

Vitamins alone cannot replace a healthy diet and do not provide energy. Your body also needs other nutrients found in food, such as protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins usually need other foods to work properly.

The daily amount of vitamin C required is defined in several ways.

• For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amounts of vitamins and minerals needed for adequate nutrition in most healthy individuals. RDAs can vary based on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are found on food and dietary supplement labels to show the percentage of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous term United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

• For Canada—
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the necessary amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein for adequate nutrition and to reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Normal daily recommended intakes for vitamin C are generally defined as follows:

Vitamin C is not kept in the body. If you take more than you need, the extra vitamin C will be released in your urine. Very large doses may also affect tests for sugar in diabetics and tests for blood in the stool.

If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, please read and follow any precautions on the label carefully. For this supplement, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients closely.

Pediatric

No problems in children have been reported with the intake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Geriatric

No problems in older adults have been reported with the intake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When taking this dietary supplement, it is especially important for your healthcare professional to know if you are taking any of the following medicines. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Amygdalin
• Deferoxamine

Using this dietary supplement with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Indinavir

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be taken at or around the time of eating food or eating specific types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional about the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may affect the use of this dietary supplement. Make sure to inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially:

• Blood problems—High doses of vitamin C may cause certain blood issues.

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Very high doses of vitamin C may interfere with urine sugar tests.

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—High doses of vitamin C may cause hemolytic anemia.

• Kidney stones (history of)—High doses of vitamin C may raise the risk of kidney stones in the urinary tract.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do, they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common or rare

with high doses

• Side or lower back pain

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common or rare

with high doses

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or faintness (with the injection only)
• Flushing or redness of skin
• Headache
• Increase in urination (mild)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Stomach cramps

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Ascocid
• C-500
• Cecon
• Cemill 1000
• Cemill 500
• Cevi-Bid
• C-Time w/Rose Hips
• Mega-C
• One-Gram C
• Protexin
• Sunkist Vitamin C

In Canada

• Ce-Vi-Sol
• Revitalose-C-1000
• Revitonus C-1000 Yellow Ampule
• Vitamin C Powder

Available Dosage Forms:

• Tablet, Chewable
• Powder
• Powder for Suspension
• Solution
• Powder for Solution
• Capsule, Extended Release
• Tablet, Extended Release
• Capsule
• Tablet
• Wafer
• Liquid

Therapeutic Class: Nutritive Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Vitamin C (class)

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules, tablets, oral solution, syrup): To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes: For the U.S. Adult and teenage males—50 to 60 milligrams (mg) per day. Adult and teenage females—50 to 60 mg per day. Pregnant females—70 mg per day. Breast-feeding females—90 to 95 mg per day. Smokers—100 mg per day. Children 4 to 10 years of age—45 mg per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—30 to 40 mg per day. For Canada Adult and teenage males—25 to 40 mg per day. Adult and teenage females—25 to 30 mg per day. Pregnant females—30 to 40 mg per day. Breast-feeding females—55 mg per day. Smokers—45 to 60 mg per day. Children 4 to 10 years of age—25 mg per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—20 mg per day. To treat deficiency: Adults and teenagers—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on the severity of deficiency. The following dose has been determined for scurvy: 500 mg a day for at least 2 weeks. Children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on the severity of deficiency. The following dose has been determined for scurvy: 100 to 300 mg a day for at least 2 weeks.

For those individuals taking the oral liquid form of vitamin C:

• This preparation is to be taken by mouth even though it comes in a dropper bottle.
• This dietary supplement may be dropped directly into the mouth or mixed with cereal, fruit juice, or other food.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss taking a vitamin for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in vitamins.

Storage

Store the dietary supplement in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.