Description
Selenium supplements are used to prevent or treat selenium deficiency.
The body needs selenium for normal growth and health. Selenium is needed for certain enzymes that help with normal body functions.
Although selenium is being used to prevent certain types of cancer, there is not enough information to show that this is effective.
Importance Of Diet
For good health, it is important that you eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow carefully any diet program your health care professional may recommend. For your specific dietary vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of appropriate foods. If you think that you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, you may choose to take a dietary supplement.
Selenium is found in seafood, liver, lean red meat, and grains grown in soil that is rich in selenium.
The daily amount of selenium needed is defined in several different ways.
For U.S.—
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
- Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs)
For Canada—
- Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.
Normal daily recommended intakes for selenium are generally defined as follows:
- Birth to 3 years of age: 10 to 20 micrograms (mcg) per day.
- 4 to 6 years of age: 20 mcg per day.
- 7 to 10 years of age: 30 mcg per day.
- Adolescent and adult males—40 to 70 mcg per day.
- Adolescent and adult females—45 to 55 mcg per day.
- Pregnant females—65 mcg per day.
- Breast-feeding females—75 mcg per day.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
- Capsule
Before Using
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Problems in children have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Geriatric
Problems in older adults have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Pregnancy
It is especially important that you are receiving enough vitamins and minerals when you become pregnant and that you continue to receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals throughout your pregnancy. The healthy growth and development of the fetus depend on a steady supply of nutrients from the mother. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided.
Studies in animals have shown that selenium causes birth defects when given in large doses.
Breastfeeding
It is important that you receive the right amounts of vitamins and minerals so that your baby will also get the vitamins and minerals needed to grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and should be avoided.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Baloxavir Marboxil
- Eltrombopag
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Kidney problems or
- Stomach problems—These conditions may cause higher blood levels of selenium, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects.
Proper Use
Dosing
The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For selenium:
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- To prevent deficiency, the amount is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
- Adult and teenage males—40 to 70 micrograms (mcg) per day.
- Adult and teenage females—45 to 55 mcg per day.
- Pregnant females—65 mcg per day.
- Breast-feeding females—75 mcg per day.
- Children 7 to 10 years of age—30 mcg per day.
- Children 4 to 6 years of age—20 mcg per day.
- Children birth to 3 years of age—10 to 20 mcg per day.
- To treat deficiency:
- Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.
- To treat deficiency:
- To prevent deficiency, the amount is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
- Diarrhea
- fingernail weakening
- garlic odor of breath and sweat
- hair loss
- irritability
- itching of skin
- nausea and vomiting
- unusual tiredness and weakness
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