Indications
Pharmacology
Dosage & Administration
Usual Adult Dose for Pernicious Anemia
Initial dose: 1000 mcg intramuscularly or deep subcutaneous once a day for 6 to 7 days
If clinical improvement and reticulocyte response is seen from the above dosing:
- 100 mcg every other day for 7 doses, then
- 100 mcg every 3 to 4 days for 2 to 3 weeks, then
- Maintenance dose: 100 to 1000 mcg monthly
Administer concomitant folic acid if needed. Chronic treatment should be done with an oral preparation in patients with normal intestinal absorption.
Usual Adult Dose for B12 Nutritional Deficiency: 25 to 2000 mcg orally daily
Usual Adult Dose for Schilling Test: 1000 mcg intramuscularly is the flushing dose
Usual Pediatric Dose for B12 Nutritional Deficiency: 0.5 to 3 mcg daily
Interaction
Contraindications
Side Effects
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy Category A. Adequate and well-controlled human studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
Lactation: Drug distributed in milk.