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Table of contents

Therapeutic actionIndicationsForms and strengthsDose and durationContra-indications, adverse effects, precautionsDosage and duration
1 May 2026Oral drugs

Retinol Oral: Vitamin A Dosing and Precautions

Retinol guidance for prevention and treatment of vitamin A deficiency, including xerophthalmia and measles supplementation.

Also searched as

Vitamin A oralRetinol

Source reviewed

source date listed on the source page

Guide category

Oral drugs

Safety boundary

Educational medicine information, not personal medical advice.

Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.

This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.

Therapeutic action

Vitamin.

Indications

  • Prevention of vitamin A deficiency.
  • Treatment of vitamin A deficiency (xerophthalmia).

Forms and strengths

  • 200,000 IU capsule, approximately 8 drops, with 1 drop equal to 25,000 IU.

Dose and duration

Prevention of vitamin A deficiency

  • Child under 6 months: 50,000 IU single dose.
  • Child from 6 to 12 months: 100,000 IU every 4 to 6 months.
  • Child over 1 year: 200,000 IU every 4 to 6 months.

Treatment of vitamin A deficiency

  • Child under 6 months: 50,000 IU once daily on D1, D2, and D8 or D15.
  • Child from 6 to 12 months: 100,000 IU once daily on D1, D2, and D8 or D15.
  • Child over 1 year and adult: 200,000 IU once daily on D1, D2, and D8 or D15.

Pregnancy

  • Prevention: after delivery only, 200,000 IU single dose.
  • Night blindness and Bitot's spots: 10,000 IU once daily or 25,000 IU once weekly for at least 4 weeks.
  • Corneal lesion: 200,000 IU once daily on D1, D2, and D8 or D15.

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

  • Do not exceed indicated doses.
  • Overdosage may cause gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, raised intracranial pressure, and foetal abnormalities.
  • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication at recommended doses.
  • Do not swallow the capsule. Cut open the end of the capsule and squeeze the dose directly into the mouth.
  • Administer routinely 2 doses on D1 and D2 to children suffering from measles to prevent complications of measles.

Dosage and duration

Vitamin A capsule dose by age
Age200 000 IU capsule
PreventionTreatment
< 6 months2 drops2 drops
6 months to < 1 year4 drops4 drops
1 to < 5 years1 cap1 cap
≥ 5 years and adult-1 cap

Source

MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)

This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.

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