Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, the active ingredient of Vitamin E Suspension, is a man-made form of vitamin E. Although the exact role of vitamin E has not yet been worked out, it is known to play an important part in metabolism – the chemical reactions that are taking place in the body all the time. Vitamin E Suspension is used in certain illnesses which prevent the body from absorbing enough vitamin E from the diet. By taking extra vitamin E in the form of Vitamin E Suspension, the body gets all it needs. The medical names for these illnesses are cystic fibrosis (an inherited disorder affecting the lungs, pancreas and other glands), chronic cholestasis (a disease of the liver) and abetalipoproteinaemia (a rare inherited disease which causes a deficiency of fat in the blood and severely affects growth).
What you need to know before you take it
e Vitamin E Suspension Do not take Vitamin E Suspension:
- if you are allergic to Vitamin E or any other ingredients of Vitamin E Suspension (listed in section 6).
- if you have an inherited condition which can cause an intolerance to some sugars Warnings and precautions
Vitamin E PIL UK 008
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Vitamin E Suspension:
- if you have a bleeding condition caused by a lack of Vitamin K.
- if you have ever had a thrombosis (a clot inside a blood vessel). Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you take this product if either of these points affects you. If Vitamin E Suspension has been prescribed for your child, then these warnings also apply to him or her. If you need any other medical treatment or surgery whilst taking Vitamin E Suspension, remember to tell the doctor or dentist treating you that you are taking this medicine. Children Where treatment with Vitamin E is required in severely anaemic infants and low birth-weight infants being treated with iron supplements, blood iron levels will be closely monitored. Other medicines and Vitamin E Suspension Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- colestyramine (a medicine used to treat high cholesterol)
- the oral contraceptive pill
- anticoagulants (medicines to thin your blood). Excessive doses of Vitamin E may interfere with iron supplement treatment in infants. Pregnancy and breast feeding If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. The effects of high doses of vitamin E during pregnancy and breast feeding are not known. Consequently, Vitamin E Suspension is not recommended during pregnancy and breast feeding. Driving and using machines Vitamin E Suspension should not affect your ability to drive or use machinery. Vitamin E Suspension contains sucrose, benzoic acid, propylene glycol and polyoxyl castor oil If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product. This medicine contains 1g of sucrose in every 5ml and may be harmful to the teeth.
Vitamin E PIL UK 008
Polyoxyl castor oil may cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea. This medicine contains 10 mg benzoic acid in each 5ml. Benzoic acid may increase jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) in newborn babies (up to 4 weeks old). This medicine contains 13.99 mg propylene glycol in each 5ml. If your baby is less than 4 weeks old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving them this medicine, in particular if the baby is given other medicines that contain propylene glycol or alcohol.
How to take it
Vitamin E Suspension Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. The usual doses vary depending upon the age of the patient, the condition for which Vitamin E Suspension was prescribed, and sometimes also the patient's weight. Vitamin E blood levels will be checked by your doctor at regular intervals during treatment and the dose adjusted as necessary.
- For cystic fibrosis:- the usual doses are 0.5ml per day for an infant under one year of age, 1ml per day for older children and 1-2ml per day for adults.
- For chronic cholestasis:- infants with chronic cholestasis may be given 1.5-2ml for each kilogram of body weight per day.
- For abetalipoproteinaemia:- the dose for all ages depends upon bodyweight and is 0.5-1ml per kilogram, daily. Vitamin E Suspension should be taken by mouth. You may have been given an oral syringe by your pharmacist to help you measure the dose accurately. Greater amounts will be needed if the Vitamin E Suspension has been diluted before it was given to you. If in any doubt about the correct dosage, follow the instructions on the bottle carefully or ask your pharmacist to explain it to you. Discard any unused Vitamin E Suspension one month after opening the bottle. Take any unused medicine back to your pharmacist for safe disposal. If you take more Vitamin E Suspension than you should If you or anyone else accidentally swallows a large amount of Vitamin E Suspension, do not panic as it is unlikely to cause any serious harm but you may experience a stomach upset. Obtain medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist immediately. If you forget to take Vitamin E Suspension Vitamin E Suspension should be taken every day but it is not important to take it at any particular time. There is no need to take extra the following day if you forget to take a dose. Vitamin E PIL UK 008
If you have any further questions on the use of this product ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects Like all medicines Vitamin E Suspension can cause side-effects, although not everybody gets them. It is possible that you might develop diarrhoea or a stomach upset. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report
Possible side effects
directly via the internet at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
How to store it
Vitamin E Suspension Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children – preferably in a locked cupboard or medicine cabinet. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not use Vitamin E Suspension for more than one month after you have opened it. The product may be diluted with syrup BP, but should be used immediately and not stored. Do not store above 25oC. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Contents of the pack and other information
What Vitamin E Suspension contains The active substance is DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, and there is 100mg of this in each ml of your medicine. The other ingredients are benzoic acid E210, sorbic acid, glycerol, sucrose, raspberry flavour (containing propylene glycol E1520 and natural flavourings), polyoxyl castor oil and purified water. What Vitamin E Suspension looks like and contents of the pack Each bottle contains 100ml of Vitamin E Suspension.
Vitamin E PIL UK 008
Marketing Authorisation Holder Alliance Pharmaceuticals Limited, Avonbridge House, Bath Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 2BB, UK. Manufacturer Laleham Health and Beauty Limited, Fairfield, Bradshaw Lane, Greenhalgh, Kirkham, Preston, Lancashire PR4 3JA. This leaflet was last revised in July 2024
Vitamin E PIL UK 008
Frequently asked questions about Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml
How do I take Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml?
Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml comes as oral solution containing 100mg/ml. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml?
The active substance in Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml is dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
For the correction of Vitamin E deficiency occurring in malabsorption disorders ie. cystic fibrosis, chronic cholestasis and abetalipoproteinaemia.
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Route of administration: For oral use.
Adults (including the elderly)
For the treatment of malabsorption disorders the following doses should be administered:
Cystic fibrosis
100-200mg/day
Abetalipoproteinaemia
50-100mg/kg/day
Children
For the treatment of cystic fibrosis a dose of 50mg/day should be given to children less than 1 year and 100mg/day to children 1 year and over. The dose should be adjusted to maintain serum α-tocopherol:cholesterol ratio above 5.4 mg/g. Serum levels should be monitored at least annually and 3-6 months after a dosage change.
The adult dosage should be used for the treatment of abetalipoproteinaemia (50-100mg/kg/day).
Infants with vitamin E deficiency which is secondary to chronic cholestasis may be treated with doses of 150-200mg/kg/day.
Vitamin E blood levels should be measured at regular intervals and doses adjusted accordingly.
For instructions on dilution of Vitamin E before administration, see section 6.6.
4.3. Contraindications
Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Vitamin E has been reported to increase bleeding tendency in vitamin-K deficient patients or those taking anticoagulant treatments, it is therefore recommended to monitor the prothrombin time and international normalised ratio (INR) to detect any changes in haemostasis. A possible adjustment of the dose of anticoagulants during and after treatment with Vitamin E Suspension 100 mg/ml may be necessary (see section 4.5).
Vitamin E has been reported to increase the risk of thrombosis in patients predisposed to this condition, including patients taking oestrogens. This finding has not been confirmed but should be borne in mind when selecting patients for treatment, in particular women taking oral contraceptives containing oestrogens.
A higher incidence of necrotising enterocolitis has been noted in lower weight premature infants (less than 1.5kg) treated with vitamin E.
Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml contains benzoic acid which may increase jaundice in newborn babies, and polyoxyl castor oil which may cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea. Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml also contains propylene glycol, therefore co-administration with any substrate for alcohol dehydrogenase such as ethanol may induce serious adverse effects in neonates. Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml also contains sucrose which may be harmful to the teeth; refer to section 4.3.
Serum levels of vitamin E should be monitored in cholestatic patients undergoing concurrent treatment with colestyramine (see section 4.5). The dose of vitamin E should be adjusted as necessary.
Vitamin E in dosages of greater than 4.5 mg/kg daily may delay the response to iron therapy in children with iron-deficiency anaemia. Iron concentrations should be monitored closely (see section 4.5).
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Vitamin E may increase the risk of haemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants (see section 4.4).
Vitamin E may increase the risk of thrombosis in patients taking oestrogens (see 4.4 above).
Colestyramine may reduce the absorption of vitamin E (see section 4.4).
Iron: Limited data suggest that excessive doses of vitamin E (>4.5 mg/kg/day) can delay the red blood cell response to iron supplements in severely anaemic infants, and that low-birth weight infants treated with iron supplements may develop vitamin E-deficiency haemolytic anaemia. High doses of vitamin E should be avoided in infants. It is not known if this interaction occurs in adults (see section 4.4).
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
There is no evidence of the safety of high doses of vitamin E in pregnancy nor is there evidence from animal work that it is free from hazard, therefore do not use in pregnancy especially in the first trimester. No information is available on excretion in breast milk, therefore it is advisable not to use during lactation.
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
None known.
4.8. Undesirable effects
Diarrhoea and abdominal pain may occur with doses greater than 1g daily.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
4.9. Overdose
Transient gastro-intestinal disturbances have been reported with doses greater than 1g daily and where necessary, general supportive measures should be employed.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Vitamin E Suspension 100mg/ml. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.