Chewable Vitamins

Almost 95% of all Americans take some form of vitamin supplementation. Chewable vitamins are a form of vitamin supplements. They have all the ingredients that are available in vitamin supplement pills which are required by the immune system of your body. In addition, they are artificially flavored to make them more palatable. Chewable vitamins are available in delicious flavors like lemon, chocolate, orange, cherry, etc and are readily taken by children without any tantrums. They are also preferred by adults who don't like to swallow pills or drink liquid formulations. Certain vitamins, like vitamin C, are destroyed on cooking and so taking them in the form of chewable supplements make sense. Chewable vitamins are easily digested in the stomach and deliver almost the entire amount of vitamins that they contain to the body.

Vitamins protect the body against the damage caused by free radicals with the help of their antioxidant properties. They help in collagen production and support the development of healthy tissue. Vitamin supplementation is required to treat deficiency diseases. Supplementation is also required when your body demand of vitamins is suddenly increased, as in case of pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins, available in a chewable form, are specially formulated for pregnant women.

Chewable vitamins should be only taken in the dose prescribed on the product package or as specified by your physician. You should never take more than what has been prescribed to you as over-dose may lead to deleterious effects. Chew the medicine completely before swallowing it. It is always ideal to take your medicine everyday at the same time of the day. This way, you derive the maximum benefit of the medicine and chances of missing a dose are minimized.

You should take the medicine regularly as long as prescribed by your doctor. Do not discontinue the medicine abruptly without consulting your physician.

Some degree of constipation, diarrhea and stomach upset is noticed when you start taking chewable vitamins. However, your body soon adjusts to the new medication and these side effects are overcome. In case they persist, you should consult your doctor. If you notice any rash, itching or bloating of face and throat, difficulty in breathing or dizziness, talk to your doctor immediately as you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the vitamins. This complication though rare, may occur at times.

If you have been diagnosed with Pernicious anemia, also called as Vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia, and have been advised to take vitamin supplements for the condition, be wary of chewable vitamins containing folic acid. Folic acid interferes with the laboratory test of Vitamin B 12 and gives false results. You may be deceived into thinking that your Vitamin B12 deficiency has been cured when actually the condition may still be persisting. Prolonged uncorrected Vitamin B 12 deficiency can affect the nervous system and lead to peripheral neuropathy. Liver and intestinal problems may interfere with the normal metabolism of chewable vitamin tablets. So if you have a history of any such medical ailments, always share it with your doctor before starting the treatment.

Similarly, any history of allergic reaction should also be brought to the notice of your physician before initiating a course of vitamin supplementation. Patients suffering from phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid taking vitamin tablets that contain aspartame as it may worsen their existing condition. Some vitamins produce prenatal side effects. Always inform your doctor about your pregnancy so that he can adjust the dosage accordingly. Similarly, if you are breast feeding your child, your doctor should know about it as some vitamins are secreted in the breast milk and may cause toxicity in the infant.

Do not take chewable vitamins along with milk as calcium present in milk can interfere with the absorption of some vitamins and minerals present in the tablet. Remember that iron, which is often present along with multivitamins in the chewable vitamin tablets, interferes with the metabolism of many other medicines like antacids, antibiotics, levodopa and thyroid medications. Therefore, it will be judicious on your part to let your doctor know about the other medications that you are taking. He will then guide you to take your multivitamin tablet in a manner so that it doesn't interfere with the other medications.

Why should you get an overdose??? Consume them in fair amount, that will do. However, in case of a real overdose, the symptoms of overdose of chewable vitamins include nausea, vomiting, pain in abdomen and loose motions. In case you suspect overdose, visit the emergency room of your local hospital at once.

To prevent overdoes, please, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

If you take your chewable vitamins in the morning and you forget to take the tablet, then take it as soon as you remember. However, if you remember it near the time of the next dose, its better to skip the missed dose and continue with the normal daily routine of taking the medicine. If you have forgotten to take the medicine for a few days, consult your doctor. Do not, in any situation, take all the missed doses together as it may lead to overdose and vitamin poisoning.

Chewable vitamins should be stored at room temperature (between 15 to 30 degrees C) away from humidity and sunlight. They should be kept out of the reach of children. Never ingest expired medicine and discard them properly. Most vitamins, whether it is chewable or not, has at least 2 years shelf life so you should have enough time to finish all the chewables.

As an advice, always look at the expiry date before your consumption.

Always remember that chewable vitamins should always be taken as a dietary supplement. No medicine can replace the wholesome goodness of a complete and nutritious diet.