Vitamin C Supplementation with Amoxicillin-Clavulanate
Yes, patients can safely take Vitamin C while on Amoxicillin-Clavulanate (Amoxiclav), as there are no documented contraindications or clinically significant drug interactions between these agents. 1
Safety Profile
- Vitamin C supplementation leads to no significant adverse health effects in the general population, with only occasional mild gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea or mild nausea) reported 1
- Amoxicillin-clavulanate is well-established as safe and effective for treating bacterial infections, with the most common adverse effects being mild gastrointestinal disturbances 2
- No evidence exists in the medical literature documenting harmful interactions between Vitamin C and amoxicillin-clavulanate when taken concurrently 1, 3
Important Caveat from H. pylori Treatment Data
- One study examining triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (lansoprazole-amoxicillin-metronidazole) found that adding Vitamin C and E supplements reduced eradication rates in patients with metronidazole-susceptible strains (80% vs 53.1%, p<0.01) 4
- However, this interaction appears specific to the metronidazole component, not amoxicillin, as the vitamin supplements did not affect eradication rates when metronidazole-resistant strains were present 4
- This finding is not applicable to standard amoxicillin-clavulanate therapy without metronidazole, making it irrelevant for most clinical uses of Amoxiclav 4
Practical Recommendations
- Patients can take standard Vitamin C supplements (typically 250-1000 mg daily) concurrently with amoxicillin-clavulanate without concern for reduced antibiotic efficacy 1
- Patients with a history of kidney stones or iron overload should exercise caution with Vitamin C supplementation regardless of antibiotic use 1
- Monitor for the known adverse effects of amoxicillin-clavulanate itself, including gastrointestinal symptoms and rare but serious hepatotoxicity, which are unrelated to Vitamin C co-administration 5, 2