Retinol

Registered South African indications:

• Retinol deficiency

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• Hypervitaminosis A
• Liver disease and renal disease
• Conflicting evidence of reduction in response to measles vaccination
• Impaired gastrointestinal absorption of vitamin A in conditions such as cholestatic jaundice and fat-malabsorption disorders

Caution

• Pregnancy 
• Breastfeeding
• Prolonged administration
• High doses

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap

Prophylaxis of vitamin A deficiency

Males and non-pregnant females

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, every 6 months

Postpartum females

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, within 8 weeks after delivery

Prevention of neonatal vitamin A deficiency

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, within 2 weeks before delivery; Given to mother

Xerophthalmia

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, dly for 2 days; Repeat dosage: 200 000IU, as a single dose after 2 weeks

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap

Prophylaxis of vitamin A deficiency
-Persistent diarrhoea in children
-Complicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
-Uncomplicated SAM
-Failure to thrive

Younger than 6 months

• Not established for use

Between 6 - 11 months

• Oral (cap): 100 000 IU, every 6 months; Treatment duration: until 5 years of age

Between 1-5 years

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, every 6 months; Treatment duration: until 5 years of age

Treatment of vitamin A deficiency

Younger than 6 months

• Oral (cap): 50 000 IU, every 6 months; Treatment duration: until 5 years of age

Between 6 - 11 months

• Oral (cap): 100 000 IU, every 6 months; Treatment duration: until 5 years of age

Between 1-5 years

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, every 6 months; Treatment duration: until 5 years of age

Measles

Younger than 6 months

• Not established for use

Between 6 - 12 months

• Oral (cap): 100 000 IU, dly for 2 days

Between 1-5 years

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, dly for 2 days

Xerophthalmia

Younger than 6 months

• Oral (cap): 50 000 IU, dly for 2 days; Repeat dosage: 50 000 IU, as a single dose after 2 weeks

Between 6 - 12 months

• Oral (cap): 100 000 IU, dly for 2 days; Repeat dosage: 100 000 IU, as a single dose after 2 weeks

Between 1-5 years

• Oral (cap): 200 000 IU, dly for 2 days; Repeat dosage: 200 000 IU, as a single dose after 2 weeks

Pregnancy

• Caution
• Adverse events have been observed in animal reproduction studies
• Doses greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) are contraindicated in pregnant women or those who may become pregnant

Breastfeeding

• Caution
• Doses greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) are in not recommended breastfeeding women

Renal Impairment

• Renal disease: Contraindicated

Hepatic Impairment

• Liver disease: Contraindicated

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended 

Porphyria Information

• Not porphyrinogenic (NP)

Drugs in Sport

• Non-regulated product
• Non-regulated products are not subjected to rigorous controls to verify its efficacy, safety, nor that the ingredients, dosages and claims listed on the label are indeed accurate, therefore authorities caution athletes against the risk of using these products

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

• Hypervitaminosis A

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Hypersensitivity reaction
• Anaphylactic shock  

• Neomycin
• Cholestyramine  
• Measles vaccine
• Liquid paraffin
• Retinoic acid derivatives
• Bexarotene
• Orlistat

None routine

Retinol and derivatives of retinol play an essential role in the metabolic functioning of the retina, the growth of and differentiation of epithelial tissue, the growth of bone, reproduction, and in the immune response.

Retinol is available in several formulations. Please note the list below gives examples of products which are available and is not necessarily comprehensive. The listing of a product does not constitute endorsement of the product by EMGuidance; likewise, failure to list a product does not imply that EMGuidance disapproves of the product. This information is put together on the basis of the National Government's Medicines Price Registry at the time of publication

Capsule 50 000 iu

• Vitaforce A 50 000IU (Biotech)

Capsule 100 000 iu

• Vitaforce A 100 000IU (Biotech)

Capsule 200 000 iu

• Vitaforce A 200 000IU (Biotech)