Cyanocobalamin injection
Generic Name: cyanocobalamin (injection) (sye AN oh koe BAL a min)Brand Names: Cobolin-M, Cyomin, Depo-Cobolin, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B12
What is cyanocobalamin injection?
Cyanocobalamin is a man-made form of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis.
Cyanocobalamin is used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency in people with pernicious anemia and other conditions.
Cyanocobalamin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about cyanocobalamin injection?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cobalt, or if you have Leber's disease. Cyanocobalamin can lead to optic nerve damage (and possibly blindness) in people with Leber's disease.To treat pernicious anemia, you will have to use this medication on a regular basis for the rest of your life. Not using the medication can lead to irreversible nerve damage in your spinal cord.
Pernicious anemia is also treated with folic acid to help maintain red blood cells. However, folic acid will not treat Vitamin B12 deficiency and will not prevent possible damage to the spinal cord. Take all of your medications as directed.
Your dose needs may change if you become pregnant, if you breast-feed, or if you eat a vegetarian diet. Tell your doctor about any changes in your diet or medical condition.What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using cyanocobalamin injection?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to cobalt, or if you have Leber's disease. Cyanocobalamin can lead to optic nerve damage (and possibly blindness) in people with Leber's disease.If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use cyanocobalamin injection:
any type of infection;
iron or folic acid deficiency;
kidney or liver disease; or
if you are receiving any medication or treatment that affects bone marrow.
How should I use cyanocobalamin injection?
Use this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your dose needs may change if you become pregnant, if you breast-feed, or if you eat a vegetarian diet. Tell your doctor about any changes in your diet or medical condition.The injection form is given as a shot into a muscle or under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be shown how to inject your medicine at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Use each disposable needle only one time. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested every 3 to 6 months. This will help your doctor determine the correct dose and how long to treat you with cyanocobalamin. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
To treat pernicious anemia, you will have to use this medication on a regular basis for the rest of your life. Not using the medication can lead to irreversible nerve damage in your spinal cord.
Pernicious anemia is also treated with folic acid to help maintain red blood cells. However, folic acid will not treat Vitamin B12 deficiency and will not prevent possible damage to the spinal cord. Take all of your medications as directed.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of cyanocobalamin is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms.What should I avoid while using cyanocobalamin injection?
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while you are being treated with cyanocobalamin.Cyanocobalamin injection side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:chest pain;
feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
swelling, rapid weight gain; or
unusual warmth, redness, or pain in an arm or leg.
Less serious side effects may include:
headache, dizziness, weakness;
nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea;
numbness or tingling;
pain, swelling, redness, or irritation where the injection was given;
fever;
joint pain; or
itching or rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Cyanocobalamin Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Pernicious Anemia:
Parenteral:Initial dose: 100 mcg intramuscularly once a day for 7 days. If there is clinical improvement and a reticulocyte response, 100 mcg intramuscularly once every other day for 7 days, then once every 3 to 4 days for another 2 to 3 weeks is recommended. Most patients require monthly injections of 100 to 1000 mcg intramuscularly for life.Nasal Spray or Gel:Alternatively, cyanocobalamin (Nascobal) nasal spray or nasal gel 500 mcg intranasally to one nostril once a week may be administered to patients with pernicious anemia who require maintenance of normal hematologic status following intramuscular vitamin B12 and who have no nervous system involvement. However, if the patient is not adequately maintained with cyanocobalamin nasal, intramuscular vitamin B12 administration must be resumed.
Usual Adult Dose for B12 Nutritional Deficiency:
Oral: 25 to 250 mcg once a day.Nasal Spray or Gel: (Nascobal) 500 mcg intranasally in one nostril once a week(CaloMist) 25 mcg in each nostril once a day (total dose 50 mcg). May be increased to 50 mcg in each nostril once a day.
Usual Adult Dose for Schilling Test:
1 mcg radiolabeled cyanocobalamin orally once after urinary voiding. A 24-hour urinary collection is immediately begun. At 2 hours an injection of cyanocobalamin 1,000 mcg intramuscularly is given to "flush" the patient of absorbed radiolabeled drug. The percentage of radiolabeled B12 excreted in the urine is a measure of how much labeled drug was absorbed. Normally 7% or more of a dose is excreted in 24 hours (< 7% may be considered a positive Schilling test).
Usual Pediatric Dose for Pernicious Anemia:
30 to 50 mcg/day for 2 or more weeks (to a total dose of 1000 to 5000 mcg), then follow with 100 mcg/month.
Usual Pediatric Dose for B12 Nutritional Deficiency:
100 mcg/day for 10 to 15 days (total dose of 1 to 1.5 mg), then once or twice weekly for several months. May taper to 60 mcg every month.
What other drugs will affect cyanocobalamin injection?
Before using cyanocobalamin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:
antibiotics;
methotrexate (Rheumatrex);
pyrimethamine (Daraprim);
colchicine; or
if you drank a lot of alcohol within the past 2 weeks.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with cyanocobalamin. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information injection?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about cyanocobalamin.
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
- Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
- Cyanocobalamin Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Cyanocobalamin Detailed Consumer Information (PDR)
- Calomist Consumer Overview
- Calomist Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Nascobal Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Nascobal Spray MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- vitamin b12 Nasal, Oral, Parenteral Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information