1 May 2026Oral drugs
Retinol = Vitamin A oral
Retinol guidance for prevention and treatment of vitamin A deficiency, including xerophthalmia and measles supplementation.
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
| Age | 200 000 IU capsule | |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention | Treatment | |
| < 6 months | 2 drops | 2 drops |
| 6 months to < 1 year | 4 drops | 4 drops |
| 1 to < 5 years | 1 cap | 1 cap |
| ≥ 5 years and adult | - | 1 cap |
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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