Two medicines, side by side
Ascorbic acid vs calcium carbonate
Ascorbic acid has no indication this site maps; calcium carbonate for acid reflux and ulcers. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other.
Check it at the source: the ascorbic acid FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 29, 2026); the calcium carbonate FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 5, 2024).
Highlights of the ascorbic acid record
Ascorbic acid (Ascor) · label of May 29, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsINDICATIONS AND USAGE ASCOR is vitamin C indicated for the short term (up to 1 week) treatment of scurvy in adult and pediatric patients age 5 months and older for whom oral administration is not possible, insufficient or contraindicated. Limitations of Use ASCOR is not indicated for treatment of vitamin C deficiency that is not associated with signs and symptoms of scurvy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 2, 2017
- Generic labelers
- 4 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Highlights of the calcium carbonate record
Calcium carbonate · label of December 5, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsrelieves • heartburn • acid indigestion • sour stomach • upset stomach associated with these symptoms
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0315 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Ascorbic acid label of May 29, 2026, Calcium carbonate label of December 5, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do ascorbic acid and calcium carbonate differ on the record?
Generics: ascorbic acid since 2025; calcium carbonate none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Ascorbic acid | Calcium carbonate | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Vitamin C | n/a |
| How it works (label) | The exact mechanism of action of ascorbic acid for the treatment of symptoms and signs of scurvy (a disorder caused by severe deficiency in vitamin C) is unknown; … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 2, 2017 | n/a |
| First generic approved | August 7, 2025 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 4 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | n/a | $0.0315 per tablet (Antacid ex-str 750 mg tablet chewable) |
| 12-month price change | n/a | -0.8% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 4 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 23,122 | 66,848 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to ascorbic acid
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions