Pantothenic Acid

Pantothenic acid is a vitamin, also known as vitamin B5, used as a dietary supplement when taken in recommended daily allowances (RDAs), and also to treat pantothenic acid deficiency.

• Pantothenic acid is available under the following different brand and other names: Vitamin B5.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Tablets

• 100 mg
• 200 mg
• 500 mg

Recommended Daily Intake

• Take with food if administered orally
• Men and Women over 14 years: 5 mg/day
• Pregnant women: 6 mg/day
• Lactating women: 7 mg/day
• Children under 6 months: 1.7 mg/day
• Children 6-12 months: 1.8 mg/day
• Children 1-3 years: 2 mg/day
• Children 3 - 8 years: 3 mg/day
• Children 8 -13 years: 4 mg/day
• Children 13-18 years: 5 mg/day

Dietary Supplement

• 5-10 mg orally once/day

Common side effects of pantothenic_acid include:

• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Diabetes mellitus, new-onset
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Weakness/lack of energy
• Dizziness
• Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) increased
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Alanine transaminase (ALT) increased
• Constipation
• Flulike illness
• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
• Hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, itching, hives, and swelling)
• Pancreatitis

Less common side effects of pantothenic_acid include:

• Yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Muscle disease
• Muscle wasting (rhabdomyolysis)

Postmarketing side effects of pantothenic_acid reported include:

• Diarrhea
• Contact dermatitis

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects may occur. Call your doctor for information and medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Pantothenic acid has no known severe or serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of pantothenic acid include:
  • azithromycin
  • clarithromycin
  • erythromycin base
  • erythromycin ethylsuccinate
  • erythromycin lactobionate
  • erythromycin stearate
  • roxithromycin
• Pantothenic acid has mild interactions with at least 68 different drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

This medication contains pantothenic acid. Do not take Vitamin B5 if you are allergic to pantothenic acid or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity

Effects of Drug Abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Pantothenic Acid?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Pantothenic Acid?"

Cautions

• None

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use of pantothenic acid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding has not been studied. Consult your doctor.