Mega Cal

Uses

Vitamin C is used for prevention and treatment of scurvy. It may be used for pregnancy, lactation, infection, trauma, burns, cold exposure, following surgery, fever, stress, peptic ulcer, cancer, methaemoglobinaemia and in infants receiving unfortified formulas. It is also prescribed for haematuria, dental caries, pyorrhea, acne, infertility, atherosclerosis, fractures, leg ulcers, hay fever, vascular thrombosis prevention, levodopa toxicity, succinyl-choline toxicity, arsenic toxicity etc. To reduce the risk of stroke in the elderly, long-term supplementation with Vitamin C is essential.

Calcium is a mineral found in over-the-counter supplements or prescription formulations used for the treatment of specific medical conditions related to calcium deficiency.

Calcium plays a vital role in the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of organisms and of the cell, particularly in signal transduction pathways. It is vital in cell signaling, muscular contractions, bone health, and signalling cascades.

Copper is a transition metal found in a variety of supplements and vitamins, including intravenous solutions for total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

For use in the supplementation of total parenteral nutrition and in contraception with intrauterine devices .

Mega Cal is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Common Cold, Deficiency, Vitamin A, Deficiency, Vitamin D, Fever, Flu caused by Influenza, Folate deficiency, Iron Deficiency (ID), Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA), Oral bacterial infection, Scurvy, Vitamin C Deficiency, Vitamin Deficiency, Nutritional supplementation, Vitamin supplementationCalcium Deficiency, Deficiency, Vitamin D, Osteodystrophy, Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis, Chronic Hypocalcemia, Chronic Hypocalcemia caused by anticonvulsant medications, Care of the Joint, Mineral supplementation, Nutritional supplementationEmergency Contraception, IUD, Trace Element Deficiency, Dietary supplementation

How Mega Cal works

In humans, an exogenous source of ascorbic acid is required for collagen formation and tissue repair by acting as a cofactor in the posttranslational formation of 4-hydroxyproline in -Xaa-Pro-Gly- sequences in collagens and other proteins. Ascorbic acid is reversibly oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid in the body. These two forms of the vitamin are believed to be important in oxidation-reduction reactions. The vitamin is involved in tyrosine metabolism, conversion of folic acid to folinic acid, carbohydrate metabolism, synthesis of lipids and proteins, iron metabolism, resistance to infections, and cellular respiration.

Calcium plays a vital role in the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of organisms and of the cell, particularly in signal transduction pathways. More than 500 human proteins are known to bind or transport calcium. The skeleton acts as a major mineral storage site for the element and releases Ca2+ ions into the bloodstream under controlled conditions. Circulating calcium is either in the free, ionized form or bound to blood proteins such as serum albumin. Parathyroid hormone (secreted from the parathyroid gland) regulates the resorption of Ca2+ from bone. Calcitonin stimulates incorporation of calcium in bone, although this process is largely independent of calcitonin. Although calcium flow to and from the bone is neutral, about 5 mmol is turned over a day. Bone serves as an important storage point for calcium, as it contains 99% of the total body calcium. Low calcium intake may also be a risk factor in the development of osteoporosis. The best-absorbed form of calcium from a pill is a calcium salt like carbonate or phosphate. Calcium gluconate and calcium lactate are absorbed well by pregnant women. Seniors absorb calcium lactate, gluconate and citrate better unless they take their calcium supplement with a full breakfast. The currently recommended calcium intake is 1,500 milligrams per day for women not taking estrogen and 800 milligrams per day for women on estrogen. There is close to 300 milligrams of calcium in one cup of fluid milk. Calcium carbonate is currently the best and least expensive form of calcium supplement available.

Copper is absorbed from the gut via high affinity copper uptake protein and likely through low affinity copper uptake protein and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein-2 . It is believed that copper is reduced to the Cu1+ form prior to transport. Once inside the enterocyte, it is bound to copper transport protein ATOX1 which shuttles the ion to copper transporting ATPase-1 on the golgi membrane which take up copper into the golgi apparatus. Once copper has been secreted by enterocytes into the systemic circulation it remain largely bound by ceruloplasmin (65-90%), albumin (18%), and alpha 2-macroglobulin (12%).

Copper is an essential element in the body and is incorporated into many oxidase enzymes as a cofactor . It is also a component of zinc/copper super oxide dismutase, giving it an anti-oxidant role. Copper defiency occurs in Occipital Horn Syndrome and Menke's disease both of which are associated with impaired development of connective tissue due to the lack of copper to act as a cofactor in protein-lysine-6-oxidase. Menke's disease is also associated with progressive neurological impairment leading to death in infancy. The precise mechanisms of the effects of copper deficiency are vague due to the wide range of enzymes which use the ion as a cofactor.

Copper appears to reduce the viabilty and motility of spermatozoa . This reduces the likelihood of fertilization with a copper IUD, producing copper's contraceptive effect . The exact mechanism of copper's effect on sperm are unknown.

Dosage

Mega Cal dosage

vitamin C is usually administered orally. When oral administration is not feasible or when malabsorption is suspected, the drug may be administered IM, IV, or subcutaneously. When given parenterally, utilization of the vitamin reportedly is best after IM administration and that is the preferred parenteral route.

For intravenous injection, dilution into a large volume parenteral such as Normal Saline, Water for Injection, or Glucose is recommended to minimize the adverse reactions associated with intravenous injection.

The average protective dose of vitamin C for adults is 70 to 150 mg daily. In the presence of scurvy, doses of 300 mg to 1 g daily are recommended. However, as much as 6 g has been administered parenterally to normal adults without evidence of toxicity.

To enhance wound healing, doses of 300 to 500 mg daily for a week or ten days both preoperatively and postoperatively are generally considered adequate, although considerably larger amounts have been recommended. In the treatment of burns, doses are governed by the extent of tissue injury. For severe burns, daily doses of 1 to 2 g are recommended. In other conditions in which the need for vitamin C is increased, three to five times the daily optimum allowances appear to be adequate.

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever the solution and container permit.

Side Effects

Ascorbic acid does not seem to have any important adverse effects at dosages less than 4 mg/day. Larger dose may cause diarrhoea or formation of renal calculi of calcium oxalate in patients with renal impairment. Ingestion of more than 600 mg daily have a diuretic action.

Toxicity

Copper toxicity is belevied to be due to fenton-type redox reactions occuring with high copper concentrations which produce damaging reactive oxygen species .

Precaution

Ingestion of megadose (more than 1000 mg daily) of vitamin C during pregnancy has resulted in scurvy in neonates. Vitamin C in mega-doses has been contraindicated for patients with hyperoxaluria. Vitamin C itself is a reactive substance in the redox system and can give rise to false positive reactions in certain analytical tests for glucose, uric acid, creatine and occult blood.

Interaction

Potentially hazardous interactions: Ascorbic acid is incompatible in solution with aminophylline, bleomycin, erythromycin, lactobionate, nafcillin, nitrofurantoin sodium, conjugated oestrogen, sodium bicarbonate, sulphafurazole diethanolamine, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, chlorthiazide sodium and hydrocortisone sodium succinate.

Useful interactions: Ascorbic acid increases the apparent half-life of paracetamol and enhances iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

Elimination Route

70% to 90%

Copper absorption varies inversely with intake. Absorption range is 12-65%.

Half Life

16 days (3.4 hours in people who have excess levels of vitamin C)

Elimination Route

The kidney excretes 250 mmol a day in urine, and resorbs 245 mmol, leading to a net loss in the urine of 5 mmol/d.

Copper appears to be eliminated primarily through bile .

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

The drug is safe in normal doses in pregnant women, but a daily intake of 5 gm or more is reported to have caused abortion. The drug may be taken safely during lactation.

Storage Condition

Should be stored in a dry place below 30˚C.

Innovators Monograph

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