Generic

Vitamin B1, B6 & B12

Indications

Vitamin B1, B6 & B12 are indicated for the treatment of vitamin B1, B6 & B12 deficiency syndrome. It is also indicated for the supportive treatment of neuritis & non-inflammatory diseases of the nerves, e.g.-

• Diabetic neuropathy
• Peripheral neuralgia
• Lumbago
• Myalgia
• Optic neuritis
• Sciatica
• Facial neuralgia
• Intercostal neuralgia
• Spinal pain.

Pharmacology

Vitamin B1 converts carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids into energy, promotes healthy nerves, improves mood, and strengthens the heart. Vitamin B6 forms red blood cells, helps cells make protein, produces neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, and releases stored forms of energy, helps prevent CVS disease and strokes, helps relieve depression, and alleviates insomnia. Vitamin B12 is essential for cell replication and also important for red blood cell production. It can prevent anemia, help prevent depression, reduce nerve pain, numbness, and tingling, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Vitamins are well absorbed each time they are taken by mouth. It is widely distributed in most tissues and is found in breast milk. In the cell, thiamine exists mainly in the form of the diphosphate. Thiamine is not stored in the body at any detectable level, and the amount that exceeds the body’s needs is excreted in the urine as thiamine or unchanged metabolites. After oral administration, pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and converted to the active forms of pyridoxal phosphate and pyridoxamine phosphate. They are mainly stored in the liver, where they are oxidized to 4 pyridoxine and other inactive metabolites, which are excreted in the urine. As the dose increases, the amount of urine excreted in the original form increases proportionally.

Dosage & Administration

Tablet: 1-3 Tablets per day or as advised by the physician.

Injection:

• In severe (acute) cases: 1 injection daily until the acute symptoms subside or taken as advised by the physician.
• In mild cases: 1 injection 2-3 times per week. Ampoules are preferably injected intramuscularly.

Use in children: There is no information on the use of this drug in children.

Interaction

So yet, no medication interactions have been observed.

Contraindications

Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12 are contraindicated in patients on levodopa therapy, and in patients with hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients of the preparation.

Side Effects

Generally well tolerated but allergic reactions may be observed in a few cases.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Although oral tablet form is preferred, injection is not advised during pregnancy or lactation due to the presence of benzyl alcohol.

Precautions & Warnings

Cyanocobalamin should not be given to patients who have subacute spinal degeneration. Cyanocobalamin is not a good type of vitamin B12 for treating visual neuropathies caused by high cyanocobalamin levels in the blood.

Therapeutic Class

Specific combined vitamin preparations

Storage Conditions

Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool (below 25°C temperature) and dry place, protected from light.

Pharmaceutical Name

General Pharmaceuticals Ltd.