Protexin (Oral)

Vitamins are essential compounds 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 proteins, and it also strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Not getting enough vitamin C can lead to scurvy, which causes muscle weakness, swollen and bleeding gums, tooth loss, bleeding under the skin, tiredness, and depression. It also makes it hard for wounds to heal. Your health care professional may prescribe vitamin C for scurvy.

Some conditions can increase your need for vitamin C, including:

• AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
• Alcoholism
• Burns
• Cancer
• Prolonged diarrhea
• Prolonged fever
• Prolonged infection
• Intestinal diseases
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Stomach ulcer
• Continuing stress
• Surgical removal of the stomach
• Tuberculosis

Additionally, certain groups may have a vitamin C deficiency, such as:

• Infants on unfortified formulas
• Smokers
• Patients 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 be used for other conditions as advised by your health care professional.

There is no proof that vitamin C prevents senility or the common cold, or treats asthma, certain mental issues, cancer, hardening of the arteries, allergies, eye ulcers, blood clots, gum disease, or pressure sores. While vitamin C is being studied for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer, there is not enough information to confirm these benefits.

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 have a balanced and varied diet. 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 various foods, such as citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), green vegetables (peppers, broccoli, cabbage), tomatoes, and potatoes. It is best to eat fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible since they contain the most vitamins. Cooking, drying, or processing food can reduce the amount of vitamin C. For example, exposure to air, salting, or cooking (especially in copper pots), cutting fresh vegetables, or mashing potatoes can decrease vitamin C levels. Freezing typically does not cause 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, like protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fats. Vitamins may not work effectively without these other foods.

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

• For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) indicate the amount of vitamins and minerals needed for adequate nutrition in most healthy people. RDAs may 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 earlier term United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

• For Canada—
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed for adequate nutrition and to lower 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 high 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 the precautions 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 any 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 in children have been reported with normal daily recommended amounts.

Geriatric

No problems in older adults have been reported with 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. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

While some medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these instances, your doctor may want to change 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 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 adjust 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 drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may adjust the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Indinavir

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around mealtime or with certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

Other medical issues may affect the use of 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 affect tests for sugar in the urine.

• 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 increase 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 happen, 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.