Clinical medicine profile
Methylcobalamin
Vitamin / mineral / nutritional supplement
- Route
- ORAL / IM / IV (selected)
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypervitaminosis risk states (hypercalcaemia for vitamin D/A).
- Iron: avoid in iron overload.
- Potassium: severe hyperkalaemia / untreated Addison's.
Precautions
- Treat confirmed deficiency with monitored repletion.
- Avoid megadoses without indication.
- Iron: keep away from children (overdose lethal).
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Nutritional Deficiency: 25 -2000 mcg daily, PO. Pernicious Anemia: 1000 mcg IM or deep SC OD x 6/7 or 7/7. Maintenance dose: 100 -1000 mcg monthly
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Fat-soluble vitamins and potassium need care in advanced CKD.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Vitamin A toxicity hepatic; niacin hepatotoxicity at high dose.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Prophylaxis and treatment Vitamin B12 deficiency
- treatment of pernicious anaemia Clinical selection for Methylcobalamin should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Vitamin / mineral / nutritional supplement.
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- GI upset (iron, high-dose vitamin C).
- Hypercalcaemia (vitamin D excess).
- Neuropathy with B6 megadoses.
- Flushing (niacin).
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Prefer food-first then targeted replacement.
- Document laboratory indication for high-dose therapy.
- Public health: vitamin A, iron, folate programmes per MoH guidance.
Mechanism & disposition
It acts as a coenzyme for various metabolic functions such as protein synthesis and fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
Read complete mechanism
It acts as a coenzyme for various metabolic functions such as protein synthesis and fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Vitamins and minerals act as cofactors, antioxidants, structural elements or hormone precursors (e.g. vitamin D endocrine axis). Pharmacological high-dose effects differ from nutritional repletion.
Days–weeks for repletion
Depends on stores and ongoing intake
ORAL / IM / IV (selected)
depends on GI integrity, food matrix and binders (e.g. calcium/iron interactions). Fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) accumulate; water-soluble generally renally cleared.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Folic acid preconception/first trimester critical. Iron/folate common in ANC. Avoid excess vitamin A.
Maternal repletion often appropriate; avoid megadoses.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reviewed brand listings are linked yet. | |||
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.