Vitamins for the Eyes, Oral

Type of medicine: vitamin

Generic and brand names: ICAPS Plus Tablets; ICAPS Time Release Tablets; Lipotriad Caplets; OcuCaps Caplets; OcuSoft VMS; Ocuvite Extra; Ocuvite Tablets; Protegra Softgels; Theragran AntiOxidant

This product is a combination of vitamins and minerals that are considered to be good for your eyesight. Vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral zinc may prevent changes in vision that occur as you get older. Some products contain additional vitamins and minerals as well. Lutein has been added to many vitamin products to reduce the risk of a condition called macular degeneration. Your eye health care provider can tell you about the use and benefits of vitamins and minerals for your eyes.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.

These vitamins can be purchased without a prescription. Follow the directions on the package or those your health care provider gives you. It is best to swallow the pills whole with a full glass of water, especially timed-release products. Your pharmacist can tell you which are timed-release products.

Vitamins are not replacements for a well-balanced diet. They are to be used only as supplements.

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

When taken as directed, vitamin products should not cause any significant side effects. However, large amounts of vitamin A may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, and dizziness. These vitamins do not contain large amounts of vitamin A.

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.