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Vitamin A Information - Drug Interactions, Uses and Benefits

Type of Drug:

Fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin that can be stored by the body.

How the Drug Works:

Vitamin A is essential for vision (prevents night blindness), dental development, growth, hydrocortisone synthesis, reproduction, and normal skin.

Uses:

To treat or prevent vitamin A deficiency.

Precautions:

Do not use in the following situations: allergy to vitamin A hyper vitamins A (overuse of vitamin A) oral use in mal absorption syndrome

  • Kidney Disease: Patients with chronic kidney failure may develop vitamin A toxicity.

  • Multiple Vitamin Deficiency: It is unusual for vitamin A deficiency to occur alone. Other vitamin supplements may be needed. Consult your pharmacist or doctor.

  • Acne: Taking large doses of vitamin A (100,000 to 300,000 IU/day) by mouth has not been shown to be effective in the treatment of acne. Topical vitamin A derivatives (retinoic acid [tretinoin] and isotretinoin) have been found to be effective.

  • Pregnancy: Adequate studies have not been done in pregnant women. Use only if clearly needed and potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards to the fetus. Safety of amounts greater than 5000 IU daily during pregnancy has not been established.

  • Breastfeeding: The US-RDA of vitamin A is 1300 mcg retinal equivalents in the first 6 months for nursing mothers and 1200 mg retinol equivalents in the second 6 months. Human milk supplies sufficient vitamin A for infants unless the mother's diet is inadequate .

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or if you are planning to take any over-the-counter or prescription medications or dietary supplements with vitamin A. Doses of one or both drugs may need to be modified or a different drug may need to be prescribed. The following drugs and drug classes interact with vitamin A:

  • Amino glycosides (eg, neomycin)

Doses:

Type

Generic Name
Brand Name Examples

Supplied As

Generic Available

 

Vitamin A

 

 

otc

Palmitate-A 5000, Vitamin A and Beta Carotene, Vitamin A Palmitate

Tablets: 500 IU, 10,000 IU, 15,00 IU, 25,000 IU

Yes
  Vitamin A Capsules: 10,000 IU, 25,000 IU
Yes

Rx

Vitamin A

Capsules: 25,000 IU

Yes

Side Effects:

Every drug is capable of producing side effects. Many vitamin A users experience no, or minor, side effects. The frequency and severity of side effects depend on many factors including dose, duration of therapy, and individual susceptibility. Possible side effects include:

Acute Toxicity (Occurs 8 to 12 hours after a large dose): Headache; nausea; vomiting; blurred or double vision; drowsiness; feeling of whirling motion; bulging font anole (soft spot) in infants.

The following are symptoms of hypervitaminosis A (toxicity after long-term use):

  • Digestive Tract: Stomach discomfort; vomiting; appetite loss; nausea. Nervous System: Unusual tiredness; dizziness; irritability; headache; bulging eyes; drowsiness.

  • Skin: Cracking of lips or skin; hair loss; scaling; itching; redness; inflammation of tongue, lips, and gums; yellowing of skin and eyes; face inflammation; sticky skin.

Other: Slow growth; night sweats; bone and joint pain; swelling of legs and ankles; decreased menstrual periods; dry mucous membranes; eye inflammation; blurred vision.

Guidelines for Use:

  • Dosage will be individualized.

  • Most people on balanced diets do not need vitamin supplements. People with hepatic cirrhosis, billiard tract or pancreatic disease, spruce, cystic fibrosis, or digestive tract diseases who are unable to digest fats are at risk for vitamin A deficiency.

  • Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) ­ Adult males: 1000 mcg retinal equivalents Adult females: 800 mcg retinal equivalents

  • Do not take more than the recommended doses.

  • Notify your doctor if signs of over dosage occur: Nausea, vomiting, head­ache, bulging fontanelle (soft spot) in infants, dizziness, feeling of whirling motion, drowsiness, blurred vision.

  • Common sources of vitamin A - Liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, whole milk, butter, cheese, egg yolk, meat, fish, squash, cantaloupes.

  • Other vitamin A sources - Fortified foods, multivitamins, and cod liver oil. Vitamin A is stored in the liver. Consider all possible sources of vitamin A before taking a supplement. Doses of vitamin A over 25,000 IU daily should be taken only with a doctor's order.

  • Store as directed on container or package.