Ascorju (Ascorbic Acid)

Adult administration

As ascorbic acid, administer 50 to 1,000 mg once to several times daily via subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous injection. Adjust dose as appropriate based on age and symptoms.

This medication should not be used in specific patients. For example, individuals allergic to this drug or its components should not take it. Additionally, those with hyperoxaluria, patients with Mediterranean anemia, gout patients, and cystinuria patients should avoid this drug. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency should be cautious, as high doses may risk hemolytic phenomena leading to red blood cell destruction. Patients with kidney stones should generally not take more than 1 gram per day for safety. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, abdominal cramps, fatigue, flushing, headaches, and insomnia. Specifically, taking more than 1 gram per day may acidify the urine, increasing the risk of diarrhea and kidney stones. Caution is advised at doses exceeding 600 milligrams, as diuretic effects may occur. For those with G6PD deficiency, hemolytic phenomena may occur, so this should be confirmed before administration. Excessive dosing may lead to the deposition of various substances in the urinary tract, causing issues, hence proper dosages should be maintained. This drug is usually taken orally, but can be administered via injection in acute situations or when gastrointestinal absorption is difficult. When injected, there may be transient pain at the injection site, and care should be taken to avoid nerve areas, administering only minimal doses, while avoiding repeated injections into the same site. Furthermore, injecting too quickly via intravenous route may lead to dizziness or vascular pain, so slow injection is safer. This medication may interact with other drugs, so caution is needed when taking it alongside aspirin, alcohol, some anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives, etc. During pregnancy, safety for the fetus has not been fully established; hence, this medication should be taken only after consulting a doctor, and only when the benefits outweigh the risks. Particularly, high doses of over 1 gram during pregnancy should be avoided due to the risk of scurvy in newborns. This medication may also be transmitted through breast milk, but significant risks to infants have not been reported at standard dosages. This drug may affect the results of certain clinical tests; for example, urine tests may not detect glucose, and hematuria and occult blood tests may yield false negatives. Overdosing may lead to diarrhea and the formation of kidney stones, and strong diuretic effects may occur; hence, symptoms should prompt immediate cessation of the drug and medical treatment. Finally, this medication should be kept out of reach of children, stored away from direct sunlight, and in a dry place. It should also be stored in its original container to prevent quality degradation and misuse.

Serious side effects

Hemolysis (in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency), kidney stones, hyperoxaluria, caution in infants and young children when injectable administration is necessary in acute or difficult oral situations.

Mild side effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, abdominal cramps, fatigue, flushing, headache, insomnia, diuretic effects, mild pain at the injection site, vascular pain, dizziness, fainting, blood reflux, increased risk of diarrhea and kidney stones.

This medication is sensitive to light and should be stored in a container that does not allow light to enter. Additionally, to maintain the drug's efficacy, it should be stored under refrigeration between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.

Appearance

A transparent colorless or pale yellow injection solution contained in a brown vial.

Package unit

50 milliliters/vial [50 milliliters (500 mg/mL)/vial, 25 vials/box]