Vasco 250mg

Indications

Ascorbic Acid (Vasco) is indicated in-

Prevents & treats scurvy

Helps in healing wounds & broken bones

Helps to form collagen in connective tissues

Aids in iron absorption & helps to treat anemia

Contributes in production of hemoglobin & red blood cell in bone marrow

Aids in preventing many types of viral and bacterial infections and potentiates the immune system

Aids in the treatment & prevention of the common cold

Promotes healthy capillaries, gums & teeth

Pharmacology

This is a preparation of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). Ascorbic Acid is an essential nutrient, which means it cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained from diet or supplements. Ascorbic Acid has many important functions. It is required for tissue growth & repair, Adrenal gland function, enhanced immunity & healthy gums. As an antioxidant, it gives protection against harmful pollution, infection & reduces cellular damage. As a coenzyme, it is a necessary factor for wound healing, drug metabolism & metabolism of cholesterol & folic acid. As an essential nutrient, vitamin C supports healthy hair & skin, strengthens the immune system and maintain overall good health.

Dosage & Administration

Oral tablet administration:

For the prevention of scurvy: 1 tablet daily

For the treatment of scurvy: 1-2 tablets daily; but dose may be increased depending on the severity of the condition.

For the reduction of risk of stroke in the elderly: 1-2 tablets daily.

In other cases: 1 tablet daily or as directed by the physician.

Maximum safe dose is 2000 mg daily in divided doses.

Oral sachet administration: 1 sachet daily or as directed by registered physician. Maximum Dose: 2000 mg/day (4 sachets/day).

Parenteral administration:

Vitamin C is usually administered orally. When oral administration is not feasible or when malabsorption is suspected, the drug may be administered IM, IV, or subcutaneously. When given parenterally, utilization of the vitamin reportedly is best after IM administration and that is the preferred parenteral route.

For intravenous injection, dilution into a large volume parenteral such as Normal Saline, Water for Injection, or Glucose is recommended to minimize the adverse reactions associated with intravenous injection.

The 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. However, as much as 6 g has been administered parenterally to normal adults without evidence of toxicity.

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. In the treatment of burns, doses are governed by the extent of tissue injury. For severe burns, daily doses of 1 to 2 g are recommended. In other conditions in which the need for vitamin C is increased, three to five times the daily optimum allowances appear to be adequate.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever the solution and container permit.

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Interaction

Potentially hazardous interactions: Ascorbic acid is incompatible in solution with aminophylline, bleomycin, erythromycin, lactobionate, nafcillin, nitrofurantoin sodium, conjugated oestrogen, sodium bicarbonate, sulphafurazole diethanolamine, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, chlorthiazide sodium and hydrocortisone sodium succinate.

Useful interactions: Ascorbic acid increases the apparent half-life of paracetamol and enhances iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Side Effects

Vasco has little toxicity and only mega-doses of Vasco may cause diarrhoea, abdominal bloating, iron over-absorption that is harmful in patients with thalassaemia, sideroblastic anemia, and haemochromatosis; hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and hemolysis in patients with glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. A pregnant woman taking more than 5 gm/day may suffer fetal abortion.

Pregnancy & Lactation

The drug is safe in normal doses in pregnant women, but a daily intake of 5 gm or more is reported to have caused abortion. The drug may be taken safely during lactation.

Precautions & Warnings

Ingestion of megadose (more than 1000 mg daily) of Vasco during pregnancy has resulted in scurvy in neonates. Vasco in mega-doses has been contraindicated for patients with hyperoxaluria. Vasco itself is a reactive substance in the redox system and can give rise to false positive reactions in certain analytical tests for glucose, uric acid, creatine and occult blood.

Therapeutic Class

Vitamin-C Preparations

Storage Conditions

Should be stored in a dry place below 30˚C.