Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C, an important vitamin your body uses to keep your bones, muscles and blood vessels healthy. As a supplement, ascorbic acid is most commonly used to treat or prevent the common cold, according to MedlinePlus, but its effectiveness is unproven. Ascorbic acid can cause side effects, particularly at high doses, and may pose risks for certain people. Talk to your doctor before taking ascorbic acid.
Side Effects
Ascorbic acid rarely causes side effects when taken at the recommended dose, according to MayoClinic.com. It may cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, stomach cramps or headache. If you constantly chew vitamin C tablets, they may erode your teeth.
Precautions
If you've had a kidney stone, do not take more than 1,000 mg per day of ascorbic acid, as higher doses may increase the risk of another stone forming, according to MedlinePlus. If you have or are at risk for cancer; diabetes; iron disorders like hemochromatosis or thalassemia; sickle cell disease; liver cirrhosis; gout or the metabolic condition known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or G6PDD, ascorbic acid might worsen your condition. If you have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor before taking vitamin C supplements. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding do not take more than 120 mg per day as that may pose risks for the baby. If you have recently had or plan on having an angioplasty, a heart procedure, ascorbic acid may interfere with your healing. Stop taking vitamin C before the procedure and consult your doctor about when it's safe to resume taking it.
High Doses
Do not take more than 2,000 mg of ascorbic acid per day as that increases the risk of serious side effects, according to MedlinePlus. At high doses, vitamin C may cause kidney stones, severe diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, gas and gastritis, which occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. High doses of ascorbic acid may also cause flushing, dizziness and tiredness. If you have been taking high doses of ascorbic acid, do not suddenly stop taking them because that may cause your blood levels of vitamin C to drop to dangerously low levels. Instead, gradually taper down to a normal dose.
Interactions
Ascorbic acid may interact with certain common medications in ways that may increase the risk of side effects or interfere with your medication's effectiveness. Talk to your doctor of pharmacist before taking vitamin C supplements, particularly if you are already taking antacids, estrogen, fluphenazine, cancer chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS drugs, over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the antibiotic tetracycline, barbiturates, nitrate medications for heart disease, the cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins, niacin or the blood thinner warfarin.
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