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Ascorbic Acid Brand Names
Acerola C | Ascor | Ascor L-500 | Betac | Cecon | Cenolate
What is Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, sodium ascorbate, ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits and green peppers.
Ascorbic acid is a free radical, an antioxidant scavenger, and plays a major role in oxidation-reduction reactions.
Ascorbic acid is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of collagen (essential for tissue maintenance and repair), carnitine, and neurotransmitters. Humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid endogenously and a lack of dietary intake can lead to scurvy.
Intravenous ascorbic acid is FDA-approved for the treatment of scurvy.
Vitamin C is also most frequently used as a nutritional supplement and as an adjunct in wound healing.
It also is used as a treatment of methemoglobinemia as an alternative in patients who cannot receive methylene blue and with deferoxamine in the treatment of chronic iron toxicity.
Vitamin C deficiency is highly prevalent during critical illness and high-dose vitamin C has been used in patients with sepsis, trauma, and burns with beneficial effects and no adverse effects.
Ascorbic acid has also been used for a variety of ailments including the common cold, gum infections, acne, depression, fertility, and cancer; however, these claims have not been substantiated and vitamin C is not recommended for these purposes.
Indications
- burns
- decubitus ulcer
- furunculosis
- iron toxicity
- methemoglobinemia
- nutritional supplementation
- scurvy
- urinary acidification
- wound management
Side Effects
- back pain
- costovertebral pain
- dental caries
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- flushing
- headache
- hemolysis
- hemolytic anemia
- hyperoxaluria
- injection site reaction
- lethargy
- nausea
- nephrolithiasis
- renal tubular obstruction
- vomiting
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- children
- G6PD deficiency
- geriatric
- hemochromatosis
- hemolysis
- hemolytic anemia
- infants
- laboratory test interference
- nephrolithiasis
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- sodium restriction
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Carbonate
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Hydroxide; Simethicone
- Aluminum Hydroxide; Magnesium Trisilicate
- Amphetamines
- Antacids
- Aspirin, ASA
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol
- Aspirin, ASA; Carisoprodol; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Citric Acid; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Aspirin, ASA; Dipyridamole
- Aspirin, ASA; Omeprazole
- Aspirin, ASA; Oxycodone
- Aspirin, ASA; Pravastatin
- Atropine; Benzoic Acid; Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate
- Benzoic Acid; Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate
- Bismuth Subsalicylate
- Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bleomycin
- Calcium Carbonate; Magnesium Hydroxide
- Choline Salicylate; Magnesium Salicylate
- Colesevelam
- Deferoxamine
- Disulfiram
- Doxycycline
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Drospirenone; Ethinyl Estradiol; Levomefolate
- Erythromycin
- Erythromycin; Sulfisoxazole
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Desogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Ethynodiol Diacetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Etonogestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Ferrous bisglycinate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Levonorgestrel; Folic Acid; Levomefolate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norelgestromin
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone Acetate; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norethindrone; Ferrous fumarate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestimate
- Ethinyl Estradiol; Norgestrel
- Fluphenazine
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
- Hyoscyamine; Methenamine; Methylene Blue; Phenyl Salicylate; Sodium Biphosphate
- Kanamycin
- Lincomycin
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Salicylate
- Methenamine
- Methenamine; Sodium Acid Phosphate
- Methenamine; Sodium Acid Phosphate; Methylene Blue; Hyoscyamine
- Mexiletine
- Omeprazole; Sodium Bicarbonate
- Propranolol
- Salsalate
- Segesterone Acetate; Ethinyl Estradiol
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Streptomycin
- Warfarin
