Print options:
Other options:
About cyanocobalamin
Cyanocobalamin is a man-made form of Vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is found in certain foods and is necessary for maintaining healthy nerve cells and red blood cells.
Lack of vitamin B12 can result from a vegetarian/vegan diet or lack of intrinsic factor (a substance produced in the stomach which absorbs Vitamin B12 from food).
Vitamin B12 is prescribed for the following reasons: after surgical removal of part, or all of the stomach or intestine to ensure there are adequate levels of vitamin B12 in the bloodstream (injection prescribed); to treat certain anaemias (injection prescribed); to perform the Schilling test to check your ability to absorb vitamin B12 (injection prescribed); vitamin B12 deficiency due to low intake from food (tablets or liquid prescribed).
Cyanocobalamin is available in tablet (50 micrograms), oral liquid (35 micrograms/5ml) and injection(1mg/ml) form.
It is also sometimes known as: Cytacon and Cytamen. You may notice the use of any of these names on the packaging of your medicine.
Before taking cyanocobalamin
Before starting this medicine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- if you are pregnant
- if you suffer from toxic ambylopia (poor vision which may be due to Vitamin B12 deficiency)
- if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this medicine
- if you are taking any other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
How to take cyanocobalamin
- Always read the manufacturer's information leaflet before beginning treatment.
Getting the most from your treatment
- The daily requirement of vitamin B12 is 2.4 micrograms for an adult. This amount is present in most normal diets.
- Vitamin B12 is found in various foods, including meat, liver, fish, eggs, and milk.
- As vitamin B12 is only found in animal products, vegan or strict vegetarian diets that exclude dairy products, may provide an inadequate amount.
- Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be monitored. You will probably find that your doctor will arrange for you to have regular blood tests.
Can cyanocobalamin cause problems?
Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome:
fever (high temperature), chills, hot flushes, dizziness, feeling sick, acne-like rash, blisters, feeling unwell, itching, rash.
If you experience any worrying symptoms, which you think may be due to this medicine, discuss them with your pharmacist.
How to store cyanocobalamin
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Discard them safely, out of the reach of children, or take them to your local pharmacist who will dispose of unwanted medicines for you.
Look in PILs for a leaflet about your condition.
© EMIS and Cegedim Pharmacy Services Ltd 2006 Updated: 08/03/2006
The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest. Find out more about updating.
Print options:
Other options:
Advert
Want to search some more? Use the Google Search box below to search our site.
Advertisements
Disclaimer: Patient UK has no control over the content of any external links above. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by Patient UK.
Want to advertise on this site? Find out how >>
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum.
Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format
This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print
Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy
Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation
Note: this will open in a new window
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Information Leaflets which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Support Groups which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Medicines & Drugs which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of diagrams which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of PatientPlus (detailed reference) articles which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of UK Guidelines which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of other selected websites which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Poems and Stories which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Operations and Procedures which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find a list of Online Videos which are related to the topic you are currently viewing
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links through to our interactive forum.
Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to news stories on this subject in our Online Newspaper
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to related products
Clicking here will take you to the foot of this page where you'll find links to other useful sources of information
Click here to open a printer-friendly version of this document, in a new window, together with the print dialogue box
Click here to open this document in PDF format
This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print
Note: this is the best way to print the document
Click here to listen to the MP3 audio recording of this document
Click here to download the audio recording of this document as a podcast, for listening to at your leisure
Click here to open our Dictionaries and Glossaries page
Click here to see related products in our Online Pharmacy
Note: this will open in a new window
Click here to add this page to a social bookmarking site of your choice
Click here if you want to find out more about social bookmarking. This link will take you to the Wikipedia explanation
Note: this will open in a new window