Cevicap

Cevicap – vitamin C, ascorbic acid (Acidum ascorbinicum), γ-Lactone 2,3-dehydro L-gulonic acid. Refers to vitamin preparations.

Indications Cevicap

Among the indications for the use of Cevicap are the following:

• vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis C, scurvy;
• hereditary blood clotting disorders, hemorrhagic diathesis, bleeding or hemorrhage of various etiologies (from the nasal cavity, gums, lungs, uterus, etc.);
• period of radiation therapy;
• infectious lesions, intoxication syndrome;
• overdose of drugs that affect blood clotting;
• inflammatory processes in the liver and gallbladder;
• atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding period, toxicosis, nephropathy;
• Addison's disease;
• poorly healing burn wounds, traumatic damage to the skin, ulcerative skin lesions, bone fractures;
• congenital methemoglobinemia;
• dental diseases, stomatitis, periodontosis;
• great physical and mental stress, fatigue;
• recovery stage after long-term illnesses;
• support for the body during the winter-spring season, during epidemics;
• chronic form of vaginosis, vaginitis, elimination of vaginal dysbacteriosis.

Release form

Cevicap is available in the form of dragees, tablets (including chewable ones, with various flavors and aromas), soluble powder for making a drink, effervescent soluble tablets (with lemon flavor), in the form of drops for oral administration, solution for intramuscular and intravenous administration, etc.

The most common forms of the drug are:

• drops for oral administration, 100 mg/ml, dark glass dropper jar with a capacity of 10 ml, in a cardboard package;
• drops for oral administration, 100 mg/ml, dark glass dropper jar with a capacity of 30 ml in a cardboard package;
• Cevicap tablets, 500 mg, 10 pieces in cell or blister packs;
• Cevicap tablets, 500 mg, 2 pieces in a cell or blister pack;
• Cevicap tablets, 500 mg, in dark glass jars.

The drug is produced by the Polish pharmaceutical joint-stock company Medana Pharma Terpol Group.

Pharmacodynamics

The active substance of the drug Cevicap - ascorbic acid - is a pronounced reducing substance. This substance affects the reactions of reduction and oxidation, blood clotting, normalizes carbohydrate metabolism processes, reduces the permeability of capillary walls, promotes the restoration of tissue structures (increases the production of collagen, elastin and proteoglycans), participates in the production of steroids, the formation of DNA and RNA, strengthens the immunological abilities of the body.

Ascorbic acid is not produced by the human body. It is supplied with food. In infectious pathologies and inflammatory processes in the body, the level of this vitamin in blood cells drops sharply, which negatively affects the immune system. A lack of ascorbic acid can provoke the development of hypovitaminosis, and not only vitamin C, but also vitamins B¹, B², A, and E.

Intravaginal administration of the drug helps to lower the pH of the vaginal environment, inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, and regenerate and stabilize the vaginal microflora.

Pharmacokinetics

The drug is absorbed in the small intestine, under the influence of glucose. When taking Cevicap up to 200 mg, absorption increases to 70% of the amount consumed. If the dosage continues to increase, absorption may decrease by half, up to 20%. Diseases of the digestive system (peptic ulcer, dyspepsia, presence of parasites, giardiasis), or vitamin C deficiency worsen the degree of absorption of the drug in the intestine.

The highest level of the active substance in the blood serum (with internal use) is detected after 4 hours. Ascorbic acid easily enters the blood cells, and subsequently - into tissue structures. The vitamin can accumulate in the neurohypophysis, adrenal glands, eye tissue, liver, brain tissue, spleen, urinary organs, respiratory organs, thyroid gland and pancreas.

In childhood (up to 11 years), the level of vitamin C in tissues is higher than in adults. The highest level of ascorbic acid is found in newborns.

The active substance is eliminated by biological transformation, mainly in the liver. All formed metabolites leave the body through the kidneys.

Some vitamin C leaves the body through breast milk.

Nicotine and ethyl alcohol accelerate the transformation of the vitamin, significantly reducing its level in the body. Women who breastfeed practically eliminate the content of ascorbic acid in breast milk.

Dosing and administration

The drug is used orally (after meals), by injection or by intravaginal administration.

For preventive purposes, Cevicap is taken:

• adult patients – from 50 to 100 mg/day;
• children from 3 to 6 years old – 25 mg/day;
• children from 6 to 14 years old – 50 mg/day;
• adolescents under 18 years of age – 75 mg/day;
• pregnant and lactating women: during the first 2 weeks – 300 mg/day, then – 100 mg/day.

For medicinal purposes, Cevicap is taken:

• adult patients – from 50 to 100 mg up to 5 times a day for 14 days;
• children – from 50 to 100 mg up to 3 times a day for 14 days.

For the treatment of scurvy, the dosage is increased:

• adults take 1 g/day;
• children – 0.5 g/day.

The maximum daily dosage for an adult patient is up to 1 g, for a child – up to 0.5 g.

The powder preparation should be used for dilution and preparation of drinks (1 g of powder per 1 l of liquid).

For intravaginal use, only those dosage forms may be used that are intended for the appropriate administration.

When using Cevicap drops, please note that 1 drop of solution contains 5 mg of vitamin C.

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Use Cevicap during pregnancy

The minimum amount of ascorbic acid that the body requires in the second and third trimesters is at least 60 mg/day.

The minimum amount of vitamin during breastfeeding is at least 80 mg/day.

However, despite the necessity and constant need of the pregnant woman's body for ascorbic acid, the drug should not be abused. The drug freely passes through the placenta. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the baby developing in the womb is able to "get used" to large doses of vitamin C consumed by the expectant mother, which subsequently, after the birth of the child, can provoke the development of the so-called "withdrawal syndrome".

Ascorbic acid penetrates into breast milk. Usually, with normal, complete nutrition of the nursing mother, the use of the additional drug Cevicap is not required. In such cases, the appropriateness of prescribing the drug is assessed by the doctor, weighing all the risks and potential benefits.

Contraindications

Cevicap is not prescribed:

• in case of individual allergic hypersensitivity to ascorbic acid;
• with a tendency to thrombosis, with thrombophlebitis;
• with caution - in case of diabetes mellitus and kidney system pathology (urolithiasis).

Side effects Cevicap

Long-term excessive use of ascorbic acid leads to suppression of pancreatic function, which in turn can affect the development of diabetes. In some cases, long-term use of the drug provoked suppression of renal function or increased blood pressure.

Increased fatigue, sleep disturbances, and irritability may occur.

When used intravaginally, itching in the vagina, discharge, redness and swelling of the mucous membrane may occur.

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Overdose

There is no reliable data on the possibility of an overdose of Cevicap. It is assumed that taking the drug in excess of the prescribed dosage (more than 1 g/day) may provoke the development of side effects.

Vitamin C taken in high doses may interfere with laboratory tests using oxidation-reduction techniques (e.g. Gregersen test (fecal occult blood test), blood and urine glucose and creatinine tests).

Interactions with other drugs

Medicines containing iron. The medicine Cevicap, due to the activity of the active substance, accelerates the absorption of plant iron in the digestive tract up to 4 times, especially in patients with iron deficiency.

Deferoxamine mesylate. In individuals with elevated iron levels in the blood, the use of Deferoxamine and Cevicap (in amounts of 150 to 250 mg per day) accelerates the excretion of iron. The use of doses over 250 mg per day does not affect the further increase in the rate of iron excretion.

Aspirin: The use of acetylsalicylic acid in large quantities reduces the bioavailability of vitamin C.

Tocopherol. Vitamin E and ascorbic acid have similar properties regarding antioxidant action. The combined use of these vitamins allows them to complement and enhance each other's action.

Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Co-trimoxazole). When used in combination with Cevicap, there is a risk of salt crystals appearing in the urine.

The use of Cevicap in high doses (more than 2000 mg/day) can lead to a decrease in urine pH, which in turn can affect the excretion of certain medications through the kidneys (salicylic acid derivatives, nitrofurantoin), and also accelerate the excretion of antidepressants and phenothiazine drugs.

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Storage conditions

It is recommended to store Cevicap at room temperature, avoiding heating of the medicine and exposure to direct sunlight. Vials with liquid medicine should be tightly closed, and tablets should be stored in the original packaging. It is necessary to protect the storage area of medicines from free access of children.

Shelf life

The shelf life of Cevicap is up to 2 years, subject to strict storage conditions.