Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant. it is used for a variety of conditions such as vitamin E deficiency, eye disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin E Overview

Reviewed: August 7, 2014
Updated: 

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin found in many foods.

Vitamin E is used most often for vitamin E deficiency, coronary heart disease, eye disease (age-related macular degeneration), Alzheimer’s disease, and many other uses. 

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage. 

Uses

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Vitamin E is used most often for vitamin E deficiency, coronary heart disease, eye disease (age-related macular degeneration), Alzheimer’s disease, and many other uses. 

Vitamin E has not been proven effective for all of the uses listed above. Vitamin E may be used for other conditions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Side Effects of Vitamin E

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Most people do not experience any side effects when taking the recommended daily amount of vitamin E. The amount of vitamin E you need each day depends on you age and can be obtained from food and supplements. 

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Vitamin E Interactions

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Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • Anticoagulants (such as warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban)
  • Antiplatelet agents (such as aspirin, clopidogrel, cilostazol, prasugrel, ticagrelor, or ticlopidine)
  • Simvastain 
  • Niacin
  • Chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer

This is not a complete list of vitamin E drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Vitamin E Precautions

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Special precautions & warnings:

  • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using vitamin E if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or trying to become pregnant. 
  • High doses of vitamin E supplements may increase the risk of bleeding and or serious bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about safe doses of vitamin E.