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Important: This site presents data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). A report does not mean the drug caused the event. Full disclaimer.

VITAMIN A: 680 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

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680
Total FAERS Reports
265 (39.0%)
Deaths Reported
483
Hospitalizations
680
As Primary/Secondary Suspect
253
Life-Threatening
251
Disabilities
Approved Prior to Jan 1, 1982
FDA Approved
CAUSE FOR CHANGE LLC
Manufacturer
Prescription
Status
Yes
Generic Available

Drug Class: Vitamin A [CS] · Route: TOPICAL · Manufacturer: CAUSE FOR CHANGE LLC · FDA Application: 006823 · HUMAN OTC DRUG · FDA Label: Available

First Report: 20100428 · Latest Report: 20250514

What Are the Most Common VITAMIN A Side Effects?

#1 Most Reported
Off label use
243 reports (35.7%)
#2 Most Reported
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease
202 reports (29.7%)
#3 Most Reported
Drug ineffective
181 reports (26.6%)

All VITAMIN A Side Effects by Frequency

Side Effect Reports % of Total Deaths Hosp.
Off label use 243 35.7% 160 210
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease 202 29.7% 69 185
Drug ineffective 181 26.6% 141 155
Product use in unapproved indication 168 24.7% 129 145
Swelling 166 24.4% 165 163
Nausea 161 23.7% 141 152
Somnolence 156 22.9% 41 151
Drug hypersensitivity 144 21.2% 139 140
Pain 143 21.0% 110 124
Dyspnoea 140 20.6% 134 133
Sleep disorder 140 20.6% 140 140
Infusion related reaction 131 19.3% 118 131
Vomiting 131 19.3% 112 109
Drug intolerance 128 18.8% 112 112
Type 2 diabetes mellitus 124 18.2% 124 124
Coma 116 17.1% 1 115
Pneumonia aspiration 115 16.9% 0 115
C-reactive protein increased 114 16.8% 114 114
Condition aggravated 112 16.5% 107 102
Rash 111 16.3% 106 108

Who Reports VITAMIN A Side Effects? Age & Gender Data

Gender: 82.0% female, 18.0% male. Average age: 56.6 years. Most reports from: CA. View detailed demographics →

Is VITAMIN A Getting Safer? Reports by Year

YearReportsDeathsHosp.
2010 1 0 1
2012 1 0 1
2013 8 0 5
2014 3 0 2
2015 3 3 3
2016 2 0 1
2017 3 0 0
2018 6 0 4
2020 46 24 24
2021 4 2 4
2022 1 0 1
2023 2 0 0
2024 1 0 0
2025 3 0 0

View full timeline →

What Is VITAMIN A Used For?

IndicationReports
Product used for unknown indication 405
Constipation 75
Rheumatoid arthritis 26
Nutritional supplementation 19
Supplementation therapy 16
Foetal exposure during pregnancy 10
Acne 6
Ocular rosacea 6
Macular degeneration 5

VITAMIN A vs Alternatives: Which Is Safer?

VITAMIN A vs VITAMIN B VITAMIN A vs VITAMIN D NOS VITAMIN A vs VITAMINS VITAMIN A vs VOCLOSPORIN VITAMIN A vs VOGLIBOSE VITAMIN A vs VOLTAREN VITAMIN A vs VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR VITAMIN A vs VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR HUMAN VITAMIN A vs VONOPRAZAN VITAMIN A vs VONOPRAZAN FUMURATE

Official FDA Label for VITAMIN A

Official prescribing information from the FDA-approved drug label.

Drug Description

DESCRIPTION AQUASOL A TM Parenteral (water-miscible vitamin A Palmitate) provides 50,000 USP Units of vitamin A per mL as retinol (C 20 H 30 O) in the form of vitamin A palmitate, a light yellow to amber oil.

Contains

0.5% chlorobutanol as preservative; 12% polysorbate 80, 0.1% citric acid, and sodium hydroxide to adjust pH. The structural formula of retinol is: Ordinarily oil-soluble, the vitamin A in this product has been water solubilized by special processing* and is available in a water solution for intramuscular injection. One USP Unit is equivalent to one international unit (IU) and to 0.3 mcg of retinol or 0.6 mcg of betacarotene.

Structural

Formula for AQUASOL

FDA Approved Uses (Indications)

INDICATIONS Vitamin A injection is effective for the treatment of vitamin A deficiency. The parenteral administration is indicated when the oral administration is not feasible as in anorexia, nausea, vomiting, pre- and postoperative conditions, or it is not available as in the "Malabsorption Syndrome" with accompanying steatorrhea.

Pediatric

Use: Vitamin A treatment for deficiency states has been recognized as an especially effective and important therapy in the pediatric population. Vitamin A supplementation for deficiency states in this population has been addressed by the Committee on Clinical Practice Issues of the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and by the World Health Organization.

Dosage & Administration

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION For intramuscular use. I.

Adults

100,000 Units daily for three days followed by 50,000 Units daily for two weeks. II. Pediatric patients 1 to 8 years old 17,500 to 35,000 Units daily for 10 days. III.

Infants

7,500 to 15,000 Units daily for 10 days. Follow-up therapy with an oral therapeutic multivitamin preparation, containing 10,000 to 20,000 Units vitamin A for adults and for pediatric patients over 8 years old, and 5,000 to 10,000 Units for infants and other pediatric patients under 8 years old, is recommended daily for two months. Low birth-weight infants may require additional vitamin A though the exact dosing in these pediatric patients has not been established. In malabsorption, the parenteral route must be used for an equivalent preparation. Poor dietary habits should be corrected and an abundant and well-balanced dietary intake should be prescribed.

Contraindications

CONTRAINDICATIONS The intravenous administration. Hypervitaminosis A. Sensitivity to any of the ingredients in this preparation. Use in Pregnancy: Safety of amounts exceeding 6,000 Units of vitamin A daily during pregnancy has not been established at this time. The use of vitamin A in excess of the recommended dietary allowance may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Animal reproduction studies have shown fetal abnormalities associated with overdosage in several species. Malformations of the central nervous system, the eye, the palate, and the urogenital tract are recorded. Vitamin A in excess of the recommended dietary allowance is contraindicated in women who are or may become pregnant. If vitamin A is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking vitamin A, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Known Adverse Reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS See OVERDOSAGE section. Anaphylactic shock and death have been reported using the intravenous route. Allergic reactions have been reported rarely with administration of AQUASOL A TM Parenteral including one case of an anaphylactoid type reaction.

Warnings

WARNINGS Avoid overdosage. Keep out of the reach of children.

Pediatric

Use: Polysorbates have been associated with E-Ferol syndrome (thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction, hepatomegaly, cholestasis, ascites, hypotension and metabolic acidosis) in low birthweight infants.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS General: Protect from light. Prolonged daily dose administration over 25,000 Units vitamin A should be under close supervision. Blood level assays are not a direct measure of liver storage. Liver storage should be adequate before discontinuing therapy. Single vitamin A deficiency is rare. Multiple vitamin deficiency is expected in any dietary deficiency.

Drug

Interactions: Women on oral contraceptives have shown a significant increase in plasma vitamin A levels. Carcinogenesis: There are no studies that show that administration of vitamin A will cause or prevent cancer. Pregnancy: See CONTRAINDICATIONS section.

Nursing

Mothers: The U.S.

Recommended Daily

Allowance (RDA) of vitamin A (5,000 Units) is recommended for nursing mothers.

Active Ingredient

Active ingredient Purpose Vitamin A 0.01% --------------------- Skin protectant

Inactive Ingredients

Inactive ingredients (INCI) of Skintex® Slimming/R6: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Caffeine, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride - Gelidium Cartilagineum Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Oleate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot)

Kernel

Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Extract, Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba), Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Urea