DRUGS GENERIC

AVAILABLE FORMS

INDICATIONS / CONTRAINDIC ATIONS INDICATIONS

SIDE EFFECTS

ADVERSE EFFECTS

NURSING CONSIDERATION Assessment & Drug Effects

Ascorbic acid Vitamin C Water soluble vitamin

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. 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.

Prophylaxis and treatment of scurvy and as a dietary supplement. Increases protection mechanism of the immune system, thus supporting wound healing. Necessary for wound healing and resistance to infection. Use of sodium ascorbate inpatients on sodium restriction; use of calcium ascorbate in patients receiving digitalis. Safety during pregnancy(categor y C) or lactation is not established. CONTRAINDIC ATIONS and CAUTIONS

Transient mild soreness may occur at the site of intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. Toorapid intravenous administration of the solution may cause temporary faintness or dizziness.

GI: Nausea,vomiting,heartburn, diarrhea. Hematologic: Acute hemolyticanemia (patientswith deficiency of G6PD); sickle cellcrisis. CNS: Headache (highdoses). Urogenital: Urethritis, dysuria,crystalluria (highdoses). Other: Mild soreness atinjection site;dizziness

Lab tests: Periodic Hct& Hgb, serumelectrolytes. Monitor for S&S of acute hemolyticanemia, sickle cellcrisis. Patient & FamilyEducation Take large doses of vitamin C in divided amounts because the body uses only what is needed at a particular time and excretes the rest in urine. Megadoses can interfere with absorption of vitaminB12 Note: Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron when taken at the same time as iron-rich foods.

Contraindicated in those persons who have shown hypersensitivity to any component of this preparation. Diabetics, patients prone to recurrent renal calculi, those undergoing stool occult blood tests, and those on sodium-restricted diets or anticoagulant therapy should not take excessive doses of vitamin C over an extended period of time.