ascorbic acid
Brand names: Vitamin C
This medicine is a Vitamin C supplement. It also has Vitamins A and D. It can help prevent tooth decay.
What it does
This medicine gives you extra Vitamins A, C, and D.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
There are no serious warnings listed.
How It Works
Vitamin C is needed for growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. Vitamins A and D are also important for overall health. Fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay.
How to Take It
Give 1.0 mL each day, or as your doctor tells you. You can drop it right into the mouth with the dropper. You can also mix it with cereal, fruit juice, or other food. This medicine comes in a 50 mL bottle with a dropper.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
This information is for children. Ask a doctor for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
Give the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 17,625 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 22,556 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
22,556
Death-Related Reports
2,511
Hospitalization Reports
9,031
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 2,275 |
| 2 | PAIN | 2,059 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 1,943 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 1,785 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 1,763 |
| 6 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,729 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 1,639 |
| 8 | VOMITING | 1,523 |
| 9 | OFF LABEL USE | 1,468 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 1,447 |
| 11 | RASH | 1,362 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 1,314 |
| 13 | ARTHRALGIA | 1,257 |
| 14 | PRURITUS | 1,133 |
| 15 | PYREXIA | 1,123 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
There are no serious warnings listed.
Known Drug Interactions
Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma EE concentrations, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.
Mechanism: Vitamin C can stop your body from breaking down the estrogen in your birth control, which may lead to higher hormone levels in your blood.
What to do: Consult your healthcare provider about whether you need to limit your vitamin C intake while taking this birth control.
Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase systemic exposure of EE possibly by inhibition of conjugation.
Mechanism: Ascorbic acid blocks the way your body normally breaks down estradiol, which can cause the drug levels to rise.
What to do: Watch for increased side effects and let your doctor know if you are taking Vitamin C supplements.
Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol concentrations, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.
Mechanism: Vitamin C can stop your body from breaking down the estrogen in your birth control. This leads to higher levels of the hormone in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to watch for side effects from higher estrogen levels.
Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.
Mechanism: Ascorbic acid blocks the process your body uses to clear birth control hormones. This can cause the levels of estrogen in your blood to rise higher than usual.
What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor you for increased side effects from the birth control. Do not start or stop taking large amounts of Vitamin C without talking to your provider.
Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation.
Mechanism: Ascorbic acid blocks the process that normally clears estrogen from your body, leading to higher hormone levels.
What to do: Your doctor may need to watch for side effects from increased estrogen levels.
Common Questions
What if my child spits out the dose?
Can I give this to my baby?
How long should my child take this?
Can I give my child more than 1 mL if they are sick?
What do I do if my child gets a rash after taking this?
Does this medicine need to be refrigerated?
Can I add this to hot food?
What if I give too much?
Can I use a spoon instead of the dropper?
Is this medicine safe for all children?
Does ascorbic acid interact with other medications?
What drug class is ascorbic acid?
Is ascorbic acid safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Vitamin C Supplement
Other drugs grouped near ascorbic acid — same-class peers and common alternatives.
biotin
Vitamin B7
Dialyvite with Zinc is a prescription vitamin supplement.
Compare with ascorbic acid →
calcitriol
Rocaltrol
Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb and use calcium.
Compare with ascorbic acid →
calcium carbonate
Tums, Caltrate
Calcium carbonate is a medicine that can relieve heartburn and upset stomach.
Compare with ascorbic acid →
cholecalciferol
Vitamin D3
PNV-DHA is a multivitamin with minerals and essential fatty acids.
Compare with ascorbic acid →
chromium picolinate
Chromium
Chromium picolinate is a mineral supplement.
Compare with ascorbic acid →
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Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Vitamin C Supplement
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
What the FDA Data Shows for ascorbic acid
The FDA label for ascorbic acid (sold under brand names such as Vitamin C) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Vitamin C Supplement class. This medicine gives you extra Vitamins A, C, and D. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 17,625 voluntary reports. The database also lists 8 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 21, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages