What is Berocca?
Berocca is a multivitamin supplement that consists of B vitamins, vitamin C plus added magnesium, calcium, and zinc. When first released in 1969, Berocca came in one flavor, Berry, which later became Original Berry. It now comes in four flavors: Original Berry, Orange, Blackcurrant, and Mango & Orange.
Berocca is used to treat or prevent vitamin deficiency due to poor diet, certain illnesses, or during pregnancy. Vitamins are important building blocks of the body and help keep you in good health.
Berocca also gives you extra support to help you stay on top of your game every day. In the U.S., it supports mental sharpness with caffeine and Guarana—a rainforest berry that natives used as an herbal caffeine source—and physical energy with key vitamins, including Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 that help convert food to fuel.* It also provides other key nutrients like Vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and more. Berocca’s effervescent tablets contain small quantities of aspartame (phenylalanine).
Berocca has several benefits for the immune system. One of the main reasons people take vitamin C-containing supplements such as Berocca is to boost their immunity, as vitamin C is involved in many parts of the immune system. First, vitamin C helps encourage the production of white blood cells known as lymphocytes and phagocytes, which help protect the body against infection. Berocca contains Vitamin B6 which is in charge of keeping the immune system strong, making new red blood cells, and transporting oxygen throughout the body.
How should I take Berocca?
The recommended daily dose of Berocca for people aged 12 and above is one tablet daily. Simply dissolve in a glass or bottled water to make a great-tasting and refreshing flavored drink. Best taken in the morning.
Can a pregnant or breastfeeding woman take Berocca?
No, avoid Berocca during pregnancy. Berocca contains guarana which should be taken with caution due to the caffeine content, it contains more caffeine than coffee beans. Small amounts are probably not harmful. However, taking guarana in high doses by mouth is possibly unsafe. Consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine daily has been linked to an increased risk of miscarriage and other negative effects.
Experts recommend limiting your caffeine-containing drinks like Berocca while breastfeeding. Caffeine does affect some babies. Breast milk can contain small traces of the substance.
What are the possible side effects of Berocca?
Berocca can cause some side effects which include:
- Anxiety.
- Constipation
- Dehydration.
- Dependency, so you need to take more of it to get the same results.
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness.
- Fast heart rate.
- Headaches.
- Insomnia.
- Restlessness and shakiness.
- Stomach upset.
These effects are usually temporary and may disappear as your body adjusts to this medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly
Taking excessive and unnecessary quantities of Berocca could lead to serious side effects. High doses of supplemental B3 (niacin) may lead to vomiting, high blood sugar levels, skin flushing, and even liver damage. Additionally, high doses of B6 can cause nerve damage, light sensitivity, and painful skin lesions.
Berocca causes urine to turn deep yellow in color – this is due to the excess vitamin B2 (also known as Riboflavin, with “flavus” meaning “yellow” in Latin) being passed via urine.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What medications should I avoid while taking Berocca?
Several medications can interact with Berocca, they include:
- Anisindione
- Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin)
- Bortezomib
- Capecitabine
- Ceftibuten
- Cephalexin
- Cephradine
- Cholestyramine
- Colesevelam
- Colestipol
- Dicumarol
- Duloxetine
- Fluorouracil
- Maralixibat
- Odevixibat
- Orlistat
- Pafolacianine
- Sevelamer
- Warfarin
Berocca may not be okay for everyone always discuss it with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting a new supplement especially if you are already taking other medication.
Why is Berocca banned in the United States?
Berocca is not banned in the United States. It is currently available for sale to US residents, you can buy it here from Amazon. However, some colors in Berocca have been banned in other countries while still allowed in Australia, the US, and New Zealand.
Does Berocca help fight COVID-19?
Currently, no evidence supports the use of oral vitamin C supplements like Berocca to prevent COVID-19. Vitamin C may help shorten the duration and severity of colds caused by other viruses, but this is no guarantee that it will have the same effect on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Studies have recommended vitamin B and C supplementation particularly in the elderly because deficiency has been associated with poor vaccine responses.
