Label: CYANOCOBALAMIN injection

(For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only)

meitheal®                                                                          Rx only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP is a sterile solution of cyanocobalamin for intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. Each mL contains 1,000 mcg cyanocobalamin.

Each vial also contains Sodium Chloride, 0.9%. Benzyl Alcohol, 1.5%, is present as a preservative. Hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide may have been added during manufacture to adjust the pH (range 4.5 to 7.0).

Cyanocobalamin appears as dark red crystals or as an amorphous or crystalline red powder. It is very hygroscopic in the anhydrous form, and sparingly soluble in water (1:80). It is stable to autoclaving for short periods at 121°C. The vitamin B12 coenzymes are very unstable in light.

The chemical name is 5,6-dimethyl-benzimidazolyl cyanocobamide; the molecular formula is C63H88CoN14O14P. The cobalt content is 4.34%. The molecular weight is 1355.39.

The structural formula is represented below.

Vitamin B12 is essential to growth, cell reproduction, hematopoiesis, and nucleoprotein and myelin synthesis.

Cyanocobalamin is quantitatively and rapidly absorbed from intramuscular and subcutaneous sites of injection; the plasma level of the compound reaches its peak within 1 hour after intramuscular injection. Absorbed vitamin B12 is transported via specific B12 binding proteins, transcobalamin I and II to the various tissues. The liver is the main organ for vitamin B12 storage.

Within 48 hours after injection of 100 or 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12, 50 to 98% of the injected dose may appear in the urine. The major portion is excreted within the first eight hours. Intravenous administration results in even more rapid excretion with little opportunity for liver storage.

Gastrointestinal absorption of vitamin B12 depends on the presence of sufficient intrinsic factor and calcium ions. Intrinsic factor deficiency causes pernicious anemia, which may be associated with subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. Prompt parenteral administration of vitamin B12 prevents progression of neurologic damage.

The average diet supplies about 5 to 15 mcg/day of vitamin B12 in a protein-bound form that is available for absorption after normal digestion. Vitamin B12 is not present in foods of plant origin, but is abundant in foods of animal origin. In people with normal absorption, deficiencies have been reported only in strict vegetarians who consume no products of animal origin (including no milk products or eggs).

Vitamin B12 is bound to intrinsic factor during transit through the stomach; separation occurs in the terminal ileum in the presence of calcium, and vitamin B12 enters the mucosal cell for absorption. It is then transported by the transcobalamin binding proteins. A small amount (approximately 1% of the total amount ingested) is absorbed by simple diffusion, but this mechanism is adequate only with very large doses. Oral absorption is considered too undependable to rely on in patients with pernicious anemia or other conditions resulting in malabsorption of vitamin B12.

Cyanocobalamin is the most widely used form of vitamin B12, and has hematopoietic activity apparently identical to that of the antianemia factor in purified liver extract. Hydroxycobalamin is equally as effective as cyanocobalamin, and they share the cobalamin molecular structure.

Cyanocobalamin is indicated for vitamin B12 deficiencies due to malabsorption which may be associated with the following conditions:

          Addisonian (pernicious) anemia
          Gastrointestinal pathology, dysfunction, or surgery, including gluten enteropathy or sprue, small bowel bacteria overgrowth, total or partial gastrectomy
          Fish tapeworm infestation
          Malignancy of pancreas or bowel
          Folic acid deficiency

It may be possible to treat the underlying disease by surgical correction of anatomic lesions leading to small bowel bacterial overgrowth, expulsion of fish tapeworm, discontinuation of drugs leading to vitamin malabsorption (see Drug/Laboratory Test Interactions), use of a gluten-free diet in nontropical sprue, or administration of antibiotics in tropical sprue. Such measures remove the need for long-term administration of cyanocobalamin.

Requirements of vitamin B12 in excess of normal (due to pregnancy, thyrotoxicosis, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, malignancy, hepatic and renal disease) can usually be met with oral supplementation.

Cyanocobalamin Injection is also suitable for the vitamin B12 absorption test (Schilling Test).

Sensitivity to cobalt and/or vitamin B12 is a contraindication.

Patients with early Leber's disease (hereditary optic nerve atrophy) who were treated with cyanocobalamin suffered severe and swift optic atrophy.

Hypokalemia and sudden death may occur in severe megaloblastic anemia which is treated intensely.

Anaphylactic shock and death have been reported after parenteral vitamin B12 administration. An intradermal test dose is recommended before cyanocobalamin injection is administered to patients suspected of being sensitive to this drug.

This product contains benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol has been reported to be associated with a fatal "Gasping Syndrome" in premature infants.

This product contains aluminum that may be toxic. Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration if kidney function is impaired.

Premature neonates are particularly at risk because their kidneys are immature, and they require large amounts of calcium and phosphate solutions, which contain aluminum.

Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration.

Generalized: Anaphylactic shock and death have been reported with administration of parenteral vitamin B12 (see WARNINGS).

Cardiovascular: Pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure early in treatment; peripheral vascular thrombosis

Hematological: Polycythemia vera

Gastrointestinal: Mild transient diarrhea

Dermatological: Itching; transitory exanthema

Miscellaneous: Feeling of swelling of entire body

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-844-824-8426 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

No overdosage has been reported with this drug.

Avoid using the intravenous route. Use of this product intravenously will result in almost all of the vitamin being lost in the urine.

Pernicious Anemia

Parenteral vitamin B12 is the recommended treatment and will be required for the remainder of the patient's life. The oral form is not dependable. A dose of 100 mcg daily for 6 or 7 days should be administered by intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injection. If there is clinical improvement and if a reticulocyte response is observed, the same amount may be given on alternate days for seven doses, then every 3 to 4 days for another 2 to 3 weeks. By this time hematologic values should have become normal. This regimen should be followed by 100 mcg monthly for life. Folic acid should be administered concomitantly if needed.

Patients with Normal Intestinal Absorption

Where the oral route is not deemed adequate, initial treatment similar to that for patients with pernicious anemia may be indicated depending on the severity of the deficiency. Chronic treatment should be with an oral B12 preparation. If other vitamin deficiencies are present, they should be treated.

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP is a sterile solution of cyanocobalamin and is supplied as follows:

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]

Protect from light.

Sterile, Nonpyrogenic.
The container closure is not made with natural rubber latex.

meitheal®

Mfd. for Meitheal Pharmaceuticals
Chicago, IL 60631 (USA)
©2024 Meitheal Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Mfd. by Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Nanjing, China 210061

September 2024

8H1AAM9-00

NDC 71288-300-01

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

1,000 mcg per mL

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

1 mL Multi-Dose Vial

NDC 71288-300-02

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

1,000 mcg per mL

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

25 x 1 mL Multi-Dose Vials

NDC 71288-301-10

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

10,000 mcg per 10 mL

(1,000 mcg per mL)

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

10 mL Multi-Dose Vial

NDC 71288-301-11

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

10,000 mcg per 10 mL

(1,000 mcg per mL)

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

10 x 10 mL Multi-Dose Vials

NDC 71288-302-30

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

30,000 mcg per 30 mL

(1,000 mcg per mL)

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

30 mL Multi-Dose Vial

NDC 71288-302-30

Rx Only

Cyanocobalamin Injection, USP

30,000 mcg per 30 mL

(1,000 mcg per mL)

For Intramuscular or Subcutaneous Use Only 

1 x 30 mL Multi-Dose Vial