hydroxocobalamin
Hydroxocobalamin is a dietary supplement that helps treat adults and children with low vitamin B12 levels. It's also sometimes used as part of a test to see how well the body absorbs vitamin B12. This medication is given as an injection into the muscle. Hydroxocobalamin side effects can include diarrhea and itching. It's available as a lower-cost generic.
What is Hydroxocobalamin?
What is Hydroxocobalamin used for?
- Vitamin B12 deficiency (low vitamin B12 levels)
- Schilling test (vitamin B12 absorption test)
How Hydroxocobalamin works
Hydroxocobalamin is a supplement that raises the levels of vitamin B12 in your body. Vitamin B12 is important for your nerves to function properly and your red blood cells to form correctly. This vitamin also helps your body make genetic material for your cells.
Drug facts
Side effects of Hydroxocobalamin
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Mild diarrhea
- Itching
- Brief, widespread rash
- Feeling of swelling of entire body
Less Common Side Effects
- Injection site pain
Hydroxocobalamin serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reaction: rash; trouble breathing; nausea; swelling of the tongue, lips, or face
The following Hydroxocobalamin side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Hydroxocobalamin
Pros
- Typically only need to take once a month after the initial treatment
- Injection can be given at home
- Doesn't have to be refrigerated
- Can use in children
Cons
- Injections might be uncomfortable
- Might have to get frequent blood tests
- Can affect potassium and platelet levels
- Not known if safe to take during pregnancy
Pharmacist tips for Hydroxocobalamin
- Make sure your provider has given you instructions on how to safely and properly inject hydroxocobalamin at home. Ask your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions on how to take the medication.
- Before injecting hydroxocobalamin, check that the solution in the vial isn't discolored and doesn't have any particles in it. Also check that it hasn't expired. Injecting medication that's expired or damaged can raise the risk for problems (e.g., infection, medication that doesn't work properly).
- Only inject hydroxocobalamin into the muscle to treat low vitamin B12 levels. Don't inject the medication into the vein.
- After each injection, throw away your used needles in a sharps container to prevent needle-stick injuries.
- Make sure you keep up with all of your appointments and blood tests so your provider can monitor your treatment and properly adjust your hydroxocobalamin dose.
- Tell your provider about all of the medications you currently take. Some medications can interfere with your vitamin B12 lab test results. Knowing which medications you take helps your provider decide the best way to check how well hydroxocobalamin is working to improve your vitamin B12 levels.
- Depending on your condition, your provider might recommend you take a multivitamin that has vitamin B12 in it as part of your daily medications.
More on Hydroxocobalamin tips
Common questions about Hydroxocobalamin
Yes, Hydroxocobalamin is a form of vitamin B12. It turns into to the active form of vitamin B12 in your body.
Once you inject a dose of Hydroxocobalamin, it will start to raise your vitamin B12 levels. But it could take your body time to adjust. This means that you might not notice some of your low vitamin B12 symptoms improving until you've taken the medication for a while. Even if you don't feel better right away, continue taking your medication. Your provider will order lab tests to check your vitamin B12 levels and see how well Hydroxocobalamin is working for you.
Hydroxocobalamin is injected into a muscle. A common place to give the injection is into the thigh muscle, but there are other options available. Discuss with your provider about the best site to inject Hydroxocobalamin and tips for injecting the medication. Before injecting a dose, wash your hands and clean the area where you plan to inject the medication. This helps prevent germs from causing an infection. Contact your pharmacist or provider if you have questions about how to give your injection.
How long your treatment with Hydroxocobalamin lasts depends on your condition. People with a condition called pernicious anemia will typically need to take Hydroxocobalamin for life. The length of treatment for other people with low vitamin B12 levels will depend on the cause of the condition and whether the condition is reversible. Speak to your provider to see how long you'll need to take Hydroxocobalamin.
Although Hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin are both used to treat low vitamin B12 levels, the two forms of B12 are made differently. Cyanocobalamin is lab-made and isn't naturally found in humans. There are formulations of cyanocobalamin that you can take by mouth, as a nasal spray, or as an injection. Hydroxocobalamin is also lab-made, but it's chemically the same as the vitamin B12 that's naturally found in human tissues and animal foods. Hydroxocobalamin is only available as an injection given into the muscle. Speak to your provider to see which form of vitamin B12 is best for your condition.
No. Hydroxocobalamin is injected into the muscle to help treat low vitamin B12 levels. Cyanokit (hydroxocobalamin) is injected into the vein by a healthcare provider to treat cyanide poisoning. Although both medications have the same ingredient, you shouldn't inject Hydroxocobalamin into the vein to treat low vitamin B12 levels because it might cause serious side effects.
Depending on your condition, you might need frequent blood tests during your treatment with Hydroxocobalamin. Your provider will order blood tests before you start the medication to confirm your low vitamin B12 levels. You'll also probably need blood tests done every so often throughout your treatment to check your vitamin B12 levels and red blood cell count. Your provider might also want to check your platelet levels and potassium levels to make sure the medication isn't causing side effects.
Speak with your provider before using Hydroxocobalamin if you're pregnant to discuss whether it's safe for you and your unborn baby. It's not known whether Hydroxocobalamin can harm your unborn baby if you take it during pregnancy.
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Risks and warnings for Hydroxocobalamin
Hydroxocobalamin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Treat low folic acid levels separately
Certain types of anemia (low red blood cell counts) can be caused by low vitamin B12 levels or folic acid levels. Your provider will help figure out the specific cause of your anemia so that you can get the proper treatment. If your body needs both vitamin B12 and folic acid, it's important that you get supplementation for both nutrients. Only getting treatment with hydroxocobalamin might help improve your red blood cell count, but it won't help with replenishing your folic acid levels.
Possible poor response to treatment
Sometimes, hydroxocobalamin might not work as well if you have other health problems, such as infection, uremia (buildup of urea in the blood), or low iron or folic acid levels. Hydroxocobalamin might also work less well if you're also taking medications that lower blood cell production, like chloramphenicol. Talk to your provider about other possible medical problems that you might have if hydroxocobalamin doesn't seem to help raise your vitamin B12 levels.
Low potassium levels
Taking hydroxocobalamin for severe megaloblastic anemia can lead to low potassium levels. Low potassium levels (or hypokalemia) can cause problems like leg cramps, muscle weakness, constipation, or heart problems. Your provider might check your potassium levels throughout your treatment.
High platelet and red blood cell count
Low vitamin B12 levels can mask a condition called polycythemia vera, which is when your body makes too many red blood cells. Once you start treatment with hydroxocobalamin and your anemia starts to improve, this condition can appear and lead to problems like stroke or organ damage. Let your provider know if you start having symptoms like headache, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, vision problems, itching or burning skin, excessive sweating, stomach issues, or painful joints.
In addition, treating severe anemia with hydroxocobalamin can sometimes lead to a high platelet count (thrombocytosis). This can raise your risk of blood clots or bleeding problems. Your provider will order blood tests during your treatment to check your platelet and red blood cell counts.
Hydroxocobalamin dosage
Vial| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30ml of 1,000mcg/ml | 1 vial | $23.95 | $23.95 |
Typical dosage for Hydroxocobalamin
Vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Adults: The typical starting dose is 30 mcg injected into the muscle once a day for 5 to 10 days. After that, the typical maintenance dose is 100 mcg to 200 mcg injected into the muscle once a month.
- Children: At the beginning of treatment, the total dose is 1 mg to 5 mg injected into the muscle over a period of 2 or more weeks, in doses of 100 mcg at a time. Then, your child will continue treatment with 30 mcg to 50 mcg injected into the muscle once a month as their maintenance dose.
Schilling test: The typical dose is 1,000 mcg injected into the muscle once.
How much does Hydroxocobalamin cost?
$23.95
What are alternatives to Hydroxocobalamin?
Hydroxocobalamin images
