vitamin e at a glance
Medicine class
Fat-soluble vitamin and antioxidant
Licensed use
Vitamin E deficiency in adults diagnosed with AVED
Administration
Soft capsules taken by mouth during or after a meal
Important allergy information
Contains refined soya-bean oil and must not be used with peanut or soya allergy
What is vitamin e used for?
This product is licensed for adults with confirmed ataxia with vitamin E deficiency.
Replacement of vitamin E in adults diagnosed with AVED, a rare inherited disorder affecting alpha-tocopherol handling and the nervous system.
How does vitamin e work?
Alpha-tocopherol helps stop damaging chain reactions in fatty cell membranes. In AVED, defective alpha-tocopherol transfer protein prevents the liver from maintaining normal circulating vitamin E. Replacement increases its availability to tissues, including nerves.
vitamin e preparations and strengths
Capsule
Route: Oral
Strengths: 400 units
How to take vitamin e
Take the capsules exactly as prescribed. Swallow them during or after a meal, and do not alter treatment without discussing it with the specialist team.
Check the ingredients because the capsules contain refined soya-bean oil and gelatin.
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all medicines and supplements, including other products containing vitamin E.
vitamin e side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, diarrhoea, wind or abdominal discomfort; frequency is unknown.
- Tiredness, weakness, headache, dizziness or blurred vision.
- Rash or mouth discomfort.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including swelling, breathing difficulty, extensive redness or blistering.
- Unusual or prolonged bleeding, especially with medicines affecting blood clotting.
vitamin e in pregnancy
This medicinal product should not be used during pregnancy because controlled safety evidence is lacking and its vitamin E content exceeds ordinary nutritional requirements. If pregnant or planning pregnancy, discuss prescribed vitamin E with the specialist rather than stopping it independently.
vitamin e while breastfeeding
Vitamin E enters breast milk. This medicinal product should not be used while breastfeeding unless the specialist team has reviewed the need and alternatives.
vitamin e interactions
Check for interactions before starting prescribed vitamin E or another vitamin E-containing product.
Anticoagulants, antiplatelets, thrombolytics and ibrutinib
Vitamin E may increase bleeding risk, so treatment and monitoring may need review.
Oestrogens
Concurrent use may increase thrombosis risk in susceptible people.
Orlistat, colestyramine and colestipol
These can reduce vitamin E absorption; a pharmacist should plan administration and monitoring.
Common questions about vitamin e
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is vitamin E prescribed for in AVED?
It replaces alpha-tocopherol that people with AVED cannot maintain normally, helping protect nervous tissue from ongoing deficiency-related damage.
Is prescribed vitamin E the same as an ordinary supplement?
No. AVED treatment uses a specific medicinal formulation under specialist supervision. Most people without deficiency obtain enough vitamin E from food.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.