ascorbic acid vs phytonadione
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of ascorbic acid and phytonadione. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Vitamin C
Vitamin K1, Mephyton
This medicine is a Vitamin C supplement. It also has Vitamins A and D. It can help prevent tooth decay.
Phytonadione is a vitamin K supplement. It helps your blood clot properly.
This medicine gives you extra Vitamins A, C, and D. It helps make sure you get enough of these vitamins in your diet. It also contains fluoride, which helps prevent cavities. This medicine is for children up to age 16 who don't get enough fluoride in their drinking water.
This medicine treats bleeding problems caused by low vitamin K levels. This can happen if you take certain blood thinners, have problems absorbing vitamin K from food, or are a newborn. It can also treat bleeding caused by some medicines.
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.
Phytonadione provides vitamin K1, which is needed to make certain clotting factors in your blood. These clotting factors help stop bleeding. By increasing these factors, phytonadione helps your blood clot normally.
No common side effects listed.
No common side effects listed.
- Fatigue 2,275
- Pain 2,059
- Nausea 1,943
- Diarrhoea 1,785
- Headache 1,763
- Nausea 630
- Vomiting 533
- Fatigue 523
- Dyspnoea 486
- Sepsis 446
There are no serious warnings listed.
This medicine can cause severe reactions, including death, if given intravenously (into a vein) or intramuscularly (into a muscle). These reactions can resemble an allergic reaction, with shock and cardiac or respiratory arrest. Intravenous and intramuscular routes should only be used if subcutaneous injection is not possible.
This information is for children. Ask a doctor for advice if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is not known if phytonadione can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
How to Read This ascorbic acid vs phytonadione Comparison
ascorbic acid is classified in the Vitamin C Supplement drug class, while phytonadione sits within the Vitamin K Supplement class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ascorbic acid has 9,825 submissions while phytonadione has 2,618. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for ascorbic acid or phytonadione.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.