One-Gram C (Oral)

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

Not getting enough vitamin C can cause a condition called scurvy. This leads to muscle weakness, swollen and bleeding gums, tooth loss, bleeding under the skin, tiredness, and depression. Wounds may heal slowly. Your health care professional may prescribe vitamin C to treat 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

Additionally, the following groups may have low vitamin C levels:

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

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, certain mental health issues, cancer, hardening of the arteries, allergies, eye ulcers, blood clots, gum disease, or pressure sores. While vitamin C is used to help lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers, more information is needed to confirm these uses are effective.

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

To stay healthy, it's important to eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow any diet plan your health care professional suggests. For specific vitamin and mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of suitable foods. If you believe you are not getting enough vitamins or minerals from your diet, you may consider taking a dietary supplement.

Vitamin C is found in many foods, such as 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 may reduce the vitamins. For example, exposure to air, drying, salting, cooking (especially in copper pots), chopping fresh vegetables, or mashing potatoes can lower the amount of vitamin C in foods. Freezing usually does not lead to loss of vitamin C unless the food is stored for a very long time.

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

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

• For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amounts of vitamins and minerals needed for adequate nutrition in most healthy people. RDAs may vary based on age, sex, and physical condition (like pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are found on food and dietary supplement labels, showing the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient 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 your body needs, the extra vitamin C will be removed through your urine. Very large doses may also affect tests for sugar in diabetics and tests for blood in stool.

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

Allergies

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

Pediatric

No problems have been reported in children when taking normal daily recommended amounts.

Geriatric

No problems have been reported in older adults when taking 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 and 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 happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to adjust the dose or take other precautions. When you are taking this dietary supplement, it is especially important that your healthcare professional knows if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been chosen based on their potential importance 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 adjust the dose or frequency of use for one or both medicines.

• Amygdalin
• Deferoxamine

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

• Indinavir

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around meal times or with certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also lead to interactions. Talk with your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Having other medical issues may affect how you can use this dietary supplement. Make sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, 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 lead to hemolytic anemia.

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

Along with its necessary effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Not all of these side effects may happen, but 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 gets used to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to suggest ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue, 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.