Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/ml Ampoules

Hydroxocobalamin Injection general information

What is Hydroxocobalamin Injection used for?

Hydroxocobalamin Injection is used to treat pernicious anaemia, which is a condition where there are insufficient red blood cells carrying haemoglobin, which remain as immature precursor cells.  Haemoglobin is the oxygen carrying metalloprotein (iron-containing protein) produced by mature red blood cells that distributes oxygen to all cells of the body.  Production of haemoglobin is dependent on Vitamin B12, which cannot be made in the body and, therefore, must be obtained from the diet.  Pernicious anaemia is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12, due to atrophic gastritis, an autoimmune condition (immune system destroys self), in this case the parietal cells of the stomach that produce intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein that binds to vitamin B12 in the stomach and is essential for normal absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine into the blood.  Hydroxocobalamin Injection is also used to treat and prevent other forms of macrocytic anaemias caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, in which red blood cells that are larger than normal size result in a lack of haemoglobin.  Hydroxocobalamin Injection is also used to treat tobacco amblyopia (smoker’s blindness) and Leber’s optic atrophy, a degenerative inherited condition caused by degeneration of retinal cells.  Hydroxocobalamin Injection is a replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency and restores the levels of vitamin B12 to normal.  This helps relieve symptoms of anaemia, including tiredness, fatigue, sore mouth and tongue, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, memory loss and depression.

How does Hydroxocobalamin Injection work?

Hydroxocobalamin commonly known as vitamin B12 is used to treat conditions caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12, including pernicious anaemia and other forms of macrocytic anaemias.  Vitamin B12 exists in 4 major forms known collectively as cobalamins that are important for the normal functioning of several body processes, including the nervous system and formation of red blood cells.  Vitamin B12 is also important for DNA synthesis and cell maturation.  Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, a process that needs Vitamin B12 and folic acid (another of the B group of vitamins).  A deficiency in vitamin B12 results in an insufficiency of mature red blood cells containing haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying pigment that distributes oxygen to all the tissues around the body.  Hydroxocobalamin in Neo-B12 Injection is the precursor for the enzyme co-enzyme B12 and this reacts with the enzyme Methylmalonyl Coenzyme A mutase, an isomerase required for the conversion of methylmalonate to succinate, an important step in production of lipoprotein in myelin sheath tissue, which could cause neurological problems.  Co-enzyme B12 also interacts with the enzyme methionine synthase (5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase), required for the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, which is essential for folic acid metabolism and the formation of thymine, which is a component of DNA.  A deficiency of vitamin B12, therefore, results in reduced production and maturation of cells with high turnover particularly red blood cells.  Hydroxocobalamin Injection supplements deficient levels of vitamin B12, which allows red blood cells to develop and produce normal levels of haemoglobin, relieving symptoms of anaemia. 

What does Hydroxocobalamin Injection contain?

Hydroxocobalamin Injection contains the active ingredient hydroxocobalamin chloride (equivalent to hydroxocobalamin anhydrous 1000 micrograms), used to treat conditions due to vitamin B12 deficiency.  It also contains sodium chloride, acetic acid and water for injections.

Treating pernicious anaemia with Hydroxocobalamin Injection

Hydroxocobalamin Injection contains hydroxocobalamin commonly known as vitamin B12 that used to treat pernicious anaemia and other forms of macrocytic anaemias.  Pernicious anaemia is caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12, due to atrophic gastritis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system destroys self, in this case the parietal cells of the stomach.  These cells produce intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein that binds to vitamin B12 in the stomach and is essential for normal absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine into the blood.  Maturation of red blood cells from the immature megaloblasts produced in bone marrow is dependent on Vitamin B12, which is a precursor for co-enzyme B12 involved in important enzyme reactions in the production of components of folic acid, which in turn is essential for DNA synthesis.  Only mature red blood cells produce haemoglobin, the oxygen carrying metalloprotein (iron-containing protein) that distributes oxygen to all cells of the body.  Vitamin B12 cannot be made in the body, therefore, it must be obtained from the diet.  Hydroxocobalamin Injection is a replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency and restores the levels of vitamin B12 to normal, which allows red blood cells to mature and produce haemoglobin.  This relieves symptoms of anaemia, including tiredness, fatigue, sore mouth and tongue, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, memory loss and depression.

What are the side effects of Hydroxocobalamin Injection?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Hydroxocobalamin Injection include Itching, exanthema (widespread rash), diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, acne, eczematous skin lesions, acne and folliculitis.

When should Hydroxocobalamin Injection not be used?

You should not use Hydroxocobalamin Injection if you:

• are allergic to Hydroxocobalamin or any ingredients in Hydroxocobalamin Injection
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• are taking medicines that interact with Hydroxocobalamin Injection, including oral contraceptives and the antibiotic chloramphenicol, without discussion with your doctor

How should Hydroxocobalamin Injection be taken?

You should take be given your Hydroxocobalamin Injection intramuscularly on alternate days for one to two weeks or until symptoms improve.  The dose you are given, how frequent and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and your doctors recommendations. 

How long should you take Hydroxocobalamin Injection?

The dose you are given, how frequent and for how long depends on what you are being treated for and your doctors recommendations. 

Missed dose of Hydroxocobalamin Injection

If you miss a dose of Hydroxocobalamin Injection take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Hydroxocobalamin Injection be stored?

You should store your Hydroxocobalamin Injection below 25°C in a cool dry place.