BETA CAROTENE

Brand & Generic Names

Solatene
Numerous multiple vitamin and	mineral supplements. Check labels.

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? No
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Nutritional supplement.

Uses

• Used as a nutritional supplement.
• Prevents night blindness.
• Used as an adjunct to the treatment of steatorrhea, chronic fever, obstructive jaundice, pancreatic insufficiency, protein deficiency, total parenteral nutrition and photosensitivity in photo porphyria.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same time each day, according to directions on package or prescription label.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Enables the body to manufacture vitamin A, which is essential for the normal functioning of the retina, normal growth and development and normal testicular and ovarian function.

Time lapse before drug works:
Total effect may take several weeks.

Don't take with:
No restrictions.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Yellow skin

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

Yellow palms, hands, soles of feet.

Infrequent:

None expected.

Rare:

• Joint pain, unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Diarrhea, dizziness.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are hypersensitive to beta carotene.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have liver or kidney disease.
• If you have hypervitaminosis*.

Over age 60:
No problems expected.

Pregnancy:
No problems expected.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected.

Infants & children:
No problems expected.

Skin & sunlight:
Beta carotene is not a sunscreen.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No special problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No special problems expected.

Others:

• Some researchers claim that beta carotene may reduce the occurrence of some cancers. There is insufficient data to substantiate this claim.
• May affect results of some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
-------------------------	-----------------------
Cholestyramine	Decreased absorption of beta carotene.
Colestipol	Decreased absorption of beta carotene.
Mineral oil	Decreased absorption of beta carotene.
Neomycin	Decreased absorption of beta carotene.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.