Cyanocobalamin is a manufactured version of vitamin B12. It’s used to treat and prevent vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia (when you have low levels of this vitamin in your body).
Your body requires vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. You can get it from your food or supplements, but sometimes there may not be enough vitamins in what you eat. This can happen if you are vegan or you do not eat much meat or dairy products.
Some conditions or treatments can stop you absorbing enough vitamin B12 from the food you eat. These include:
- pernicious anaemia
- low stomach acid due to swelling (inflammation) in the lining of the stomach (atrophic gastritis) or certain medicines
- stomach (gastric) surgery
- swelling (inflammation) in your intestines because of conditions like Crohn’s disease and coeliac disease
- an infection in your stomach or intestine
- This medication is given by injection into a muscle or under the skin as directed by your doctor.
- Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Injections may be given daily when you first start treatment. Certain medical conditions (such as pernicious anemia) may require you to continue receiving injections every month.
