you may be referring to some other Emer'gen-C product I am unaware of, however, I've been using an Emer'gen-C powdered drink mix for several years. They offer a range of similar products, I stick the the basic, a box of 36 packets, each box is available in variety of flavors like tangerine, cranberry. Each packet contains 1000mg of vitamin c constituted of powdered "mineral ascorbates", plus small amounts of approximately 12 other minerals includintg potassium that helps provide the effervescence.

Use is quite simple, open the packet, pour into a glass, then fill the glass with about 8 oz of water, let it fizz a few minutes, lightly stir as needed (the instructions say not to mix, but some times it is necessary to mix) and drink. After taking a single large dose of C in the morning (of a different brand and form), I may take one or more doses of Emer'genC throughout the latter parts of the day if I feel in need of a boost. In general, this product is a good supplement to one's daily regimen, but from a price perspective, is not really practical to be used as the main source of C in a daily regimen that uses large/mega/pharma doses (such as 20,000 mg or more per day). For these purposes you generally want to use some other form. like plain (non-flavored) C powder in sodium or calcium ascorbate, that are more cost efficient in these larger doses.

Dr. Robert Cathcart, M.D. found that ascorbic acid orally was more powerful/effective than the mineral ascorbates. (http://www.orthomed.com/titrate.htm) Also, if you use any mineral ascorbate, other than sodium, you have the burden of eliminating the excess minerals (sodium is relatively easy for the body to excrete). I use 1 gram ascorbic acid tablets.

As "grist for your mill," I myself have taken a "bowel tolerance" dose (in HEALTH, not illness) of ascorbic acid every day since 1994, amounting to, on average, 30,000 to 60,000 milligrams (approximately 1 to 2 ounces) in 5 to 10 divided doses (and will continue to do so for the rest of my life). This is MY bowel tolerance dosage. Your bowel tolerance dosage may be more, or less, than mine, and will undoubtedly vary depending on your current overall health and diet. Each person must find their own bowel tolerance dose each day (although ingesting ANY ascorbate is MUCH better than none). Virtually any mammal you can name (standardized to 154 pounds/70 kilos) produces a minimum of from 2,000 to 13,000 milligrams of ascorbic acid EVERY day of its life, and under "stress" one was recorded to have produced 100,000 milligrams in 24 hours. Need we wonder why their health always seems to be so much better than ours?

David