Methylcobalamin
About Methylcobalamin
Methylcobalamin is used to treat vitamin b12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet). Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when the body has lower levels of vitamin B12 than normal. Symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, numbness, poor balance, and memory trouble.
Methylcobalamin contains Methylcobalamin, a form of vitamin B12 that regulates body functions, such as cell multiplication, blood formation, and protein synthesis. It also helps restore nucleic acid in the nerve cells. It also prevents megaloblastic anaemia (anaemia with unusually large red blood cells). Methylcobalamin is useful for immediate action since it is a sublingual formulation.
Your doctor will decide the dosage based on your medical condition. Sometimes, Methylcobalamin may cause common side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and headache. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. If these side effects are persistent, please reach out to your doctor.
Let your doctor know if you have any allergic reactions to vitamins before starting Methylcobalamin. It is essential to let your doctor know if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or are a breastfeeding mother. Avoid consuming alcohol along with Methylcobalamin to ensure maximum absorption of nutrients. Methylcobalamin should be used in children only with the doctor's advice.
Uses of Methylcobalamin
Medicinal Benefits
Methylcobalamin contains Methylcobalamin, a form of Vitamin B12, which regulates body functions and helps rejuvenate and protect damaged nerve cells by producing a substance called myelin. It prevents nerve damage in peripheral neuropathy and treats symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. It promotes amino acid synthesis and plays an important role in protein formation. Methylcobalamin also treats and prevents megaloblastic anaemia, a vitamin deficiency anaemia caused by low vitamin B12 levels. It is further useful in the treatment of alcoholic neuropathy, pernicious anaemia (red blood cells are not produced due to Vitamin B12 deficiency), diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels), and multiple sclerosis (immune system disease affecting the brain).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Methylcobalamin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if you have any heart, liver or kidney diseases before starting Methylcobalamin. This supplement should be used during pregnancy only when advised by your doctor. Methylcobalamin is excreted into breast milk. Hence, breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking Methylcobalamin. Drinking alcohol may hinder vitamin absorption; therefore, it is advised to limit the alcohol intake while using Methylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin is safe for children only when prescribed by the doctor.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Methylcobalamin may interact with antibiotics (neomycin, chloramphenicol), antituberculosis antibiotics (aminosalicylic acid), heartburn medication (omeprazole, cimetidine), and gout medicines (colchicine).
Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions were found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Inform your doctor before starting Methylcobalamin if you have malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food), liver, kidney or heart diseases, optic nerve damage, iron/folic acid deficiency, low potassium levels, and allergic reactions.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consuming alcohol with Methylcobalamin to ensure maximum absorption of nutrients.
Pregnancy
cautionMethylcobalamin should be used during pregnancy only when advised by your doctor. Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or planning to conceive before starting Methylcobalamin.
Breast Feeding
cautionMethylcobalamin may be excreted into breast milk. Please consult your doctor before taking the supplement if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
safeMethylcobalamin usually does not interfere with your driving ability. However, do not drive or operate machinery if you are not mentally alert and focused.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before taking Methylcobalamin. Your dosage may be adjusted in case of liver impairment.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before taking Methylcobalamin. Your dosage may be adjusted in case of renal impairment.
Children
cautionMethylcobalamin should be used in children only when the doctor advises. The doctor will prescribe the dosage of Methylcobalamin based on the child's age and weight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Try Vitamin B complex food sources like milk, cheese, eggs, liver and kidney, chicken, red meat, tuna, mackerel, salmon, shellfish, oysters, clams, dark green vegetables such as spinach and kale, beets, avocados, potatoes, whole grains, cereals, kidney beans, black beans, and chickpea.
Taking vegetables like acorn squash, asparagus, beet greens, Brussels sprouts, and spinach can help cope with Vitamin B deficiency.
Limit foods with high cholesterol and saturated fats.
Cut down on sugar, salt and processed foods.
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid excess fatty foods.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Vitamin B12 deficiency (cobalamin deficiency): Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when the body has lower levels of vitamin B12 than normal. Symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness, numbness, poor balance and memory trouble. Pernicious anaemia, an autoimmune disease, is the most common cause of B12 deficiency. In this condition, the body cannot absorb enough vitamin b12 since the body's immune system produces antibodies against the intrinsic factor (a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin b12). Other causes include stomach or gut issues, where the body cannot absorb the vitamins, medications like antidiabetics and stomach-related drugs, and dietary restrictions like being a strict vegan.
Peripheral neuropathy/peripheral neuritis: It is defined as damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. The pain could be intermittent or continuous, with a prickling, stabbing, tingling or burning sensation. A feeling of numbness and loss of sensations is also common with neuropathic pain. Symptoms include spontaneous, un-triggered pain, unpleasant feeling, shooting, burning or stabbing pain, muscle weakness, and cramping.
FAQs
Methylcobalamin is used to treat vitamin b12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet).
Methylcobalamin treats B12 deficiency by restoring low levels of vitamin B12 in the body. It has extended benefits in treating peripheral neuropathic pain by preventing nerve cell damage. It is further involved in cell multiplication, blood formation, and protein synthesis.
Please continue using Methylcobalamin for as long as the doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. It may take several months to cure a vitamin deficiency; hence do not abruptly stop taking this supplement. However, if you did not notice any improvement in your condition, it is advised to consult a doctor.
Long-term usage of Methylcobalamin is not recommended in people whose occupation involves mercury handling and exposure. Please check with your doctor for more information.
Taking Metformin for longer duration is associated with the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns; your doctor will prescribe vitamin B12 supplements if needed.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and follow your usual dosage.
