Vitamin A (Retinol)

Indications & Dose:

Vitamin A deficiency

Severe deficiency with xerophthalmia   

• BY MOUTH

50,000 i.u. per day for 3 days followed by 50,000 i.u. per day for 2 weeks

Severe deficiency:

• BY MOUTH

 100,000 i.u. per day for 3 days followed by 50,000 i.u. per day for 2 weeks.

Children 5000-10,000 i.u. per day for 2 weeks. 

Contraindications:

 Malabsorption syndrome (PO) 

Side Effects:

Cautions:

Precautions:

Impaired renal function 

Interaction:

Drugs
Acitretin, etretinate: Large doses of vitamin A should be avoided with these retinoids 

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Safety of exceeding 5000/6000 IU PO/IV recommended daily allowance (RDA) not established; naturally present in breast milk, deficiency rare, RDA during lactation is 6000 IU; danger of higher doses unknown 

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

CNS: Headache, increased intracranial pressure, intracranial hypertension, lethargy, malaise
EENT: Exophthalmos, gingivitis, inflammation of tongue and lips, papilledema
GI: Abdominal pain, anorexia, jaundice, nausea, vomiting
METAB: Hypercalcemia, hypomenorrhea
MS: Arthralgia, hard areas on bone, retarded growth
SKIN: Alopecia, drying of skin, increased pigmentation, night sweats, pruritus 

Patient And Carer Advice: