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vitamin C
Used for Nutritional Deficiency, Pet Meds
Used for Nutritional Deficiency, Pet Meds
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a dietary supplement that's available over the counter. It's typically used for people who aren't getting enough of the vitamin from the foods in their diet. The supplement commonly comes as tablets, chewable tablets, gummies, and oral liquid. While vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is important for several bodily functions, some of its suggested benefits (e.g., preventing colds) aren't clear. Side effects typically aren't common when you take vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements at recommended doses, but they're more likely to happen if you take too much.
What is Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)?
What is Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) used for?
- Dietary supplement
How Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) works
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a supplement that provides your body with this important vitamin. Your body needs vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for several processes. These roles include keeping your cells healthy, building collagen for joint and skin health, and helping you absorb more iron from food.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | No brand available |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Dietary supplement |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Over-the-counter |
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Side effects of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
See Risks and Warnings.
The following Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Kidney stones—blood in the urine, pain or trouble passing urine, pain in the lower back or sides
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Pros
- Typically taken once daily
- Available over the counter and as a lower-cost generic
- Available as chewable tablets or gummies that might be a good option for people who have trouble swallowing pills whole
- Some chewable tablets and gummies are fruit-flavored for better taste.
Cons
- Too much vitamin C can cause stomach side effects.
- Some chewable tablets might contain sugar, so might not be a good choice for people who have high blood sugar
- Can't take if you have certain blood-related problems, such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
- Injectable form is only available with a prescription for severely low vitamin C levels
Pharmacist tips for Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Discuss with your provider if you're getting enough vitamin C from your diet or if you should take a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplement.
- You can take vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements with or without food.
- Don't start taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) without talking to your provider or pharmacist to make sure all your medications and supplements are safe to take together. This is because vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can interact with many common medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin), simvastatin (Zocor), and certain estrogen-containing birth control pills.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is found in many other multivitamins and supplements. Make sure to read labels carefully on all of the dietary supplements you're taking to see if it contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Don't take multiple supplements that have vitamin C (ascorbic acid) because you could get stomach side effects.
- If you have high blood sugar, make sure you choose a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) product that's sugar-free. Read the labels before you purchase your vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplement. Chewable tablets and gummies often contain sugar.
- Store vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in a cool and dry place at room temperature in its original container to protect it from light and moisture.
- Keep vitamin C (ascorbic acid) out of reach of children so that they don't accidentally take it. If your child accidentally took vitamin C (ascorbic acid), call your local Poison Control Center right away at 1-800-222-1222.
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Risks and warnings for Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Toxicity from too much vitamin C
- Risk factors: High doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Taking multiple products that contain vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
If you take vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements at the recommended dose, it's unlikely that you'll experience any side effects. But side effects can happen if you take high doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or if you get an injection of the vitamin from a provider. These side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is in many foods and over-the-counter products. Make sure to carefully check the labels of all of your foods, medications, and supplements to make sure you're not taking too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 500mg of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is $5.29 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 48.19% off the average retail price of $10.21. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500mg | 30 tablets | $5.29 | $0.18 |
Typical dosage for Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Different vitamin C (ascorbic acid) products can have different strengths of vitamin C and different directions on how to take the supplement.
Please read the manufacturer's label for directions that are specific to the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) product you have or follow your provider's instructions. Your provider might recommend a dose of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that's different from the manufacturer's label.
Below are some examples of dosing instructions for some formulations of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
-
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 500 mg tablet:
- Adults and children 12 years and older: The typical dose is 500 mg by mouth once daily.
- Children 11 years and younger: Ask your child's provider.
-
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 250 mg chewable gummy:
- Adults 18 years and older: The typical dose is to chew and swallow 2 gummies (500 mg) by mouth once daily.
- Children 17 years and younger: Ask your child's provider.
For adults, it's recommended that you don't take more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) per day. For children, ask your child's provider how much they can take per day.
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How much does Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) (generic)
$5.29
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