To maintain normal hemoglobin levels, a balanced diet is necessary. Excessive nervousness, pale skin, poor appetite and fatigue may indicate anemia and a lack of vitamin B12 in the body. In this case, additional use of special medications is indicated.
What is vitamin B12, release forms
Vitamin B12 is a representative of the water-soluble group of vitamins, can accumulate and be stored in the liver, and contains cobalt.
It is necessary for the human body, as it takes part in hematopoiesis and the production of red blood cells. The source is animal products - dairy and meat products, chicken eggs. As a rule, vegetarians, pregnant women, as well as people diagnosed with atrophic gastritis or chronic enteritis suffer from cyanocobalamin deficiency. The cause of a lack of vitamin B12 may be pathologies that prevent its absorption in the intestines.
To compensate for the lack of cyanocobalamin in the population, pharmaceutical factories produce a variety of drugs containing either one component or a combination of essential vitamins and minerals (vitamin complexes).
You can buy vitamin B12 in pharmacies in several dosage forms:
- capsules for oral administration;
- film-coated tablets;
- solution for injection.
Causes and symptoms of deficiency in the body
A number of studies have identified risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency in women. According to their results, a lack of substance can be triggered by age-related changes and a vegetarian diet (). A deficiency of vitamin B12 is often diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this case, deficiency becomes the reason for the use of metformin. It has been experimentally proven that patients receiving this drug daily in an amount of 1000 mg are 10 times more likely to have a deficiency of B vitamins than those who did not take this drug ().
A lack of a beneficial compound can also be caused by:
- bearing a child;
- breastfeeding the baby;
- taking contraceptive medications;
- parasitic infection of the body;
- presence of bad habits, such as smoking or addiction to alcohol;
- detection of gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases.
Vitamin B 12 deficiency in women manifests itself in the form of irritability, drowsiness, loss of appetite and hair loss. Symptoms of cyanocobalamin deficiency also include yellowness of the skin, dry mouth, ulcerative lesions of the mucous membranes and the appearance of unpleasant body odor. People lacking the beneficial compound suffer from dizziness, shortness of breath, arrhythmia and diarrhea. In some cases, the deficiency affects the visual organs. Redness and dryness of the conjunctiva, increased photosensitivity, itching and burning are detected.
What is vitamin B12 for?
First of all, vitamin B12 is needed for the normal functioning of the hematopoietic system, since the substance is necessary for the maturation of red blood cells. Helps prevent anemia. Also cyanocobalamin:
- takes part in providing the body with energy;
- necessary for the reproduction of cells in the bone marrow, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract;
- helps the nervous system work smoothly;
- ensures iron absorption;
- has an analgesic effect;
- needed for metabolism (participates in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates);
- serves as a prevention of Alzheimer's disease, depression, schizophrenia, and cardiovascular pathologies.
B12 from Vitamir
One of the popular monopreparations containing cyanocobalamin is Vitamin B12 from the Vitamir company. It is produced in tablets and goes on sale in packages of 30 and 60 pieces. In addition to the main substance, it contains lactose and stearic acid. This is a dietary supplement that is recommended as a dietary supplement as a source of vitamin B12.
Among the contraindications, the manufacturer indicates personal intolerance, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
According to the instructions, you should take 100 mg tablets once a day, one piece during a meal. The course of treatment is one month. Repeating is possible after a month's break.
The appointment must be agreed with the doctor. The price of a pack of 30 pieces starts from 180 rubles, sold without a prescription.
Cyanocobalamin treatment regimen
When vitamin B12 is prescribed, instructions for use
will help you calculate the correct dosage. The treatment plan looks like this:
- For the prevention of anemia and vitamin deficiency - from 200 to 500 mcg per day. The course of treatment ranges from 7 to 15 days.
- For the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system - 200 mcg per day daily for the first 3 days. Then 300 mcg daily for 4 days.
- If cyanocobalamin is used in complex therapy, the dosage is from 200 to 500 mcg per day.
Take vitamin B12
It is necessary only in the dosage recommended by the doctor. It is not recommended to use the drug on your own, since it is quite difficult to determine an individual treatment regimen.
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B12 from Blagomin
Available in the form of capsules of 0.2 g. One jar contains 90 pieces. In addition to the main active ingredient, it contains gelatin and microcrystalline cellulose.
The intake is indicated to replenish the lack of cyanocobalamin in the body. Also contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, persons with intolerance to substances from the composition.
The instructions prescribe taking one capsule once a day for a month. Allowed for teenagers over 14 years of age and adults. You can undergo treatment courses several times a year.
The price for a jar starts from 240 rubles, a prescription is not needed to purchase.
Compatibility of B vitamins
When prescribing injections of vitamins B1, B6 and B12, you need to check with your doctor the following points:
- is it possible to use complex means;
- What scheme should you use to inject pure vitamins?
The main difficulty in using these vitamins is that they are incompatible with each other: cyanocobalamin inhibits the effect of pyridoxine and increases the allergenic properties of thiamine, so they cannot be used at the same time. Pyridoxine complicates the absorption of thiamine, preventing its transition to a biologically active form. But these vitamins can be used in combination: both in their pure form according to a special regimen, and as part of multivitamin products.
Combination of pure vitamins
In their pure form, vitamins cannot be mixed in one syringe: they begin to react. Such use can cause severe side effects in the absence of a pronounced therapeutic effect. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain an interval of at least 12 hours between injections. The price of pharmaceutical monocomponent supplements is low, but their use requires compliance with this rule.
Previously, in the absence of comprehensive balanced means, the following scheme was used:
- alternate in the morning: one day - B1, the other - B6;
- Inject B12 in the evening.
There are also schemes in which thiamine and pyridoxine are administered simultaneously, but with different syringes. The next day, an injection of cyanocobalamin is given.
Important! When using pure vitamins, you need to remember the basic rule: you cannot mix drugs in the same syringe.
Maintaining an interval of 12 hours between injections helps the active components to be absorbed more efficiently, reducing the likelihood of adverse reactions.
Complex drugs
If a doctor prescribes an injection of a complex of vitamins B1, B6 and B12, many patients begin to doubt it, arguing that the substances are incompatible. Complex products differ from conventional ones in that they are prepared using a special technology that allows the active substances to transform into active form at different times. As a result, they do not interact with each other in the body, and therefore are absorbed more easily.
Such drugs have a higher price because their manufacturing technology differs from conventional monocomponent products. They may also contain lidocaine, which reduces pain during injection. Fewer injections are required per day, which is easier for many patients.
The following drugs are on sale:
- Neuromultivit, G.L. Pharma GmbH;
- Neurobion, Merck KGaA;
- Combilipen, Pharmstandard;
- Larigama, Grotex LLC.
Combilipen and Larigama, in addition to vitamins, contain lidocaine. It reduces pain.
Indications for use
Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 are needed in order to normalize the functioning of the nervous system, increase performance, and reduce pain in degenerative diseases of the spine. They are prescribed in the following cases:
- with polyneuropathy;
- neuralgia and neuritis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- pain syndrome caused by degenerative changes in the spine;
- herpes zoster;
- during the recovery period after injuries and surgical interventions.
Important! The complex is not prescribed during pregnancy and lactation, since B6 inhibits milk production.
Pregnant women are not prescribed complex drugs, since there is no data on the safety of use during this period.
In their pure form, vitamins can be prescribed for iron deficiency anemia (B12), increased fatigue, acute toxicosis, which is accompanied by severe nutritional deficiency. During lactation, thiamine with cyanocobalamin can be prescribed, but only under medical supervision, since the vitamins can pass into breast milk.
Course duration
The duration of treatment is 10 days for thiamine and pyridoxine and 20 days for cyanocobalamin. Therefore, most often B1 and B6 alternate every other day, and in the other half of the day they inject B12 daily. There is no schedule for injections of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 for prevention - tablets are used for preventive purposes.
The treatment regimen can be developed individually for each individual case, and the duration of the course of use may vary. On average, vitamin injections are given for 2–3 weeks, after which they switch to using tablets.
Painful sensations
Pain occurs when vitamins are administered intramuscularly. The most painful is thiamine (B1). Injections are given in three ways:
- intramuscularly;
- intravenously;
- subcutaneously
The most popular intramuscular method of administration: it allows the active substance to be absorbed into the bloodstream gradually and work longer. With intravenous injections, the active substances reach their maximum concentration in the blood faster, but the period of their elimination is also shortened. Subcutaneous administration of vitamins is characterized by lower bioavailability and severe pain, so it is used extremely rarely.
Vitamin B12 solution
Available in ampoules of 10 pieces per package. 1 ml contains 0.5 mg of cyanocobalamin.
Indications for prescribing vitamin injections are:
- anemia due to chronic lack of vitamin B12;
- iron deficiency anemia, as well as caused by severe bleeding (as an additional treatment);
- Cerebral palsy and Down syndrome;
- anemia caused by drug or toxin poisoning;
- liver pathologies (cirrhosis, hepatitis);
- skin diseases (neurodermatitis, psoriasis, dermatitis);
- radiculitis and neuralgia.
The solution is injected into the spinal canal, vein or muscle, under the skin, and also taken orally.
The dosage should be selected by the doctor based on the severity of the condition and the age of the patient.
According to instructions:
- in case of vitamin deficiency and anemia due to it, administration of 100/200 mcg once every two days is indicated;
- for anemia due to bleeding or iron deficiency - 30-100 mcg twice or thrice a week;
- children are prescribed 30-100 mcg per day, depending on the indications;
- anemia with neurological pathology is treated with daily injections of 400-500 mcg for a week, then once every five to seven days.
Therapy can cause allergies, increased heart rate, diarrhea, and nervous excitement.
In the form of a solution, vitamin B12 is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, with thromboembolism, and increased production of red blood cells.
Lack of cyanocobalamin must be confirmed by analysis.
The price of a package of 10 ampoules starts from 30 rubles, and is available with a prescription from a doctor.
Indications for use of cyanocobalamin
Vitamin B12 in ampoules
used as adjunctive therapy. It enhances the effect of drugs and helps the body overcome many diseases. In rare cases, it is prescribed as the only means to prevent anemia.
Indications for use of vitamin B12:
- chronic migraine;
- Down syndrome;
- cerebral palsy;
- neuralgia;
- radiation sickness;
- alcohol poisoning;
- dystrophy;
- anemia;
- radiculitis;
- diseases of the pancreas and liver;
- gastritis;
- photodermatosis;
- sclerosis.
Taking cyanocobalamin is indicated for vitamin deficiency and frequent respiratory diseases. A lack of substance in the body leads to deterioration of the condition of hair, nails and teeth. For this reason, the drug is taken in ampoules not only for therapeutic purposes, but also for cosmetic purposes.
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