Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12), Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vitamin

Generic and brand names: cyanocobalamin, injection; cyanocobalamin, oral; hydroxocobalamin, injection; vitamin B-12, injection; vitamin B-12, oral; Cobex; Crystamine; Crysti 1000; Cyanoject; Cyomin; Ener-B; Kaybovite-1000; Hydro Cobex; Hydro-Crysti-12; Hydrobexan; LA-12; Redisol; Rubesol-1000; Rubramin-PC; Sytobex; Vitamin B-12 Injection; Vitamin B-12 Tablets

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a form of vitamin B-12, a necessary nutrient. It is taken by mouth or by injection to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency and to meet the increased need for vitamin B-12 during pregnancy, hemorrhage, anemia, and other conditions. Vitamin B-12 may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do I use it?

Follow your health care provider's instructions if you are taking vitamin B-12 by mouth or receiving this medicine by injection. Keep all your appointments for blood tests so that your health care provider can tell how well the medicine is working.

If you have pernicious anemia (also called addisonian anemia), you will need injections monthly for the rest of your life. If you don't receive monthly injections, the anemia may return and cause permanent damage to nerves in your spinal cord.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

Eating a well-balanced diet will help this medicine work and will help you feel better generally. Your health care provider or a dietitian can help you choose healthy foods and ways to prepare them.

A vegetarian diet that does not include meat, milk products, and eggs will not supply enough vitamin B-12. If you are a vegetarian, you need to take vitamin B-12 by mouth regularly.

Folic acid is not a substitute for vitamin B-12, but these nutrients are often taken together. Follow your health care provider's directions.

If you are allergic to this medicine, you may have a reaction after an injection. If you develop hives, itching, a rash, tightness in your chest or trouble breathing, get emergency medical help immediately.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Other: Mild diarrhea, feeling of swelling all over your body, pain at the spot where injection is given.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• aminosalicylic acid
• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• colchicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.