Vitamin E, Oral VY-ta-min E

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vitamin

Generic and brand names: d-alpha tocopheryl; d-alpha tocopheryl acetate; d-alpha tocopheryl acid succinate; vitamin E; Aquasol E; Alpha E; Aqua Gem E (There may be other brand names for this medicine.)

What is this medicine used for?

Vitamin E is found in certain foods and is needed for good health. Vitamin E supplements are prescribed when you don't get enough in your diet. Your healthcare provider may prescribe vitamin E for other conditions.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your provider if you have a bleeding disorder or are taking vitamins or medicines that affect the way your blood clots, or if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. It is not known whether taking large doses of vitamin E will harm an unborn baby.

How do I take it?

Vitamin E is stored in your body, so large doses may cause serious side effects. You can buy this medicine without a prescription. Do not take more than recommended by your healthcare provider or directed on the package label.

This medicine comes in different forms. If you have the liquid form of this medicine, use a specially marked measuring device to measure each dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. The liquid may be dropped directly into your mouth or mixed with fruit juice. You may take capsules with or without food. Do not crush or chew the capsules.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

An acute overdose of this medicine is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I watch out for?

When taken in recommended doses, vitamin E does not usually cause serious side effects. However, taking large doses over a long period of time can cause serious side effects.

If you take vitamin E, tell all healthcare providers or dentists you are taking this medicine. Vitamin E may cause you to bleed more easily or to bleed longer.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Blurred vision, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, weakness, nausea, stomach cramps, tiredness, unusual bruising or bleeding.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• aspirin or other salicylates
• cholesterol medicines such as cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), dipyridamole (Persantine), ticlopidine, and warfarin (Coumadin)
• natural remedies such as angelica, anise, arnica, capsicum, chamomile, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, horse chestnut, licorice, papain, passionflower, red clover, tumeric, and willow
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• orlistat (Xenical, alli)
• other vitamins or supplements that contain vitamin E
• tipranavir (Aptivus)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.