Complaint
Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C) is a water-soluble vitamin. It occurs as a white or slightly yellow crystal or powder with a light acidic taste. It is an antiscorbutic product. On exposure to air and light it gradually darkens. In the dry state it is reasonably stable in air, but in solution it rapidly oxidizes. Ascorbic Acid is freely soluble in water; sparingly soluble in alcohol
Ascorbic Acid injection is a clear, colorless to slightly yellow sterile solution of Ascorbic Acid in Water for Injection, for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous use.
Symptoms of mild deficiency
faulty bone and tooth development, gingivitis, bleeding gums, and loosened teeth. Febril states, chronic illness, and infection (pneumonia, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, sinusitis, rheumatic fever, etc.)
Hemovascular disorders, burns, delayed fracture and wound healing are indications for an increase in the daily intake.
EFFICACY AND EFFECT
1. Main indications
1) Treatment and prevention of Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy, etc.)
- prevention and treatment of scurvy
- acute deficiency or uncertain absorption of orally ingested ascorbic acid
2) Various physical states when the requirement for Vitamin C increases (Atrophic disease,
pregnant women, nursing mothers, athletes with problems in drug absorption, post-operative patients, during heavy physical exertions, etc.
2. Other indications
This drug may be administered to the following diseases:
Phrenoplegia, formation of bone matrix in apophyseal fracture, stimulate anaphylaxis, light
hypersensitive dermatitis, internal hemorrhage due to explosion of capillary, hematuria, Vitamin X deficiency caused by drug administration (salucylates, atropine, ammonium
chloride, barbiturates), discoloration on the face, freckle, settlement of pigment after the inflammation.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Ascorbic acid is usually administered orally. When oral administration is not feasible or when malabsorption is suspected, the drug may be administered intramuscularly, intravenously or subcutaneously. When given parenterally, utilization of the vitamin reportedly is best after IM administration, which is the preferred parenteral route.
For intravenous injection, dilution into a large volume parenteral such as Normal Saline or Glucose is recommended to minimize the adverse reactions associated with intravenous injection.
The average protective dose of ascorbic acid for adults is 70 to 150 mg daily. In the presence of scurvy, doses of 300 mg to 1 gram daily are recommended. However, as much as 6 grams have been administered parenterally to normal adults without evidence of toxicity.
To enhance wound-healing, doses of 300 to 500 mg daily for a week to 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 grams are recommended. In other conditions in which the need for ascorbic acid is increased, three to five times the daily optimum allowances appear to be adequate.
