Vitamin B 12 (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Dietary Supplement

Dosing - If you are taking vitamin B ₁₂ intranasal gel:

• Take it at least one hour before or one hour after hot foods or liquids .
• Check with your doctor for follow-up blood tests every 3 to 6 months .

The amount of vitamin B ₁₂ needed to meet normal daily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals. The following information includes only the average amounts of vitamin B ₁₂ .

• For nasal dosage form (intranasal gel):
  • To prevent deficiency, you are given this dosage form only if you have received vitamin B ₁₂ by injection into the muscle and are in remission state.
    • Adults - 500 mcg (0.5 mg) into the nostrils once a week.
• For oral dosage form (tablets or extended-release tablets):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
    For the U.S.
    • Adults and teenagers - 2 micrograms (mcg) per day.
    • Pregnant females - 2.2 mcg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females - 2.6 mcg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age - 1.4 mcg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age - 1 mcg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age - 0.3 to 0.7 mcg per day.
    For Canada
    • Adults and teenagers - 1 to 2 mcg per day.
    • Pregnant females - 2 to 3 mcg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females - 1.5 to 2.5 mcg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age - 0.8 to 1 mcg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age - 0.5 mcg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age - 0.3 to 0.4 mcg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children - Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on the severity of deficiency.

For patients receiving vitamin B ₁₂ by injection for pernicious anemia or if part of the stomach or intestine has been removed :

• You will have to receive treatment for the rest of your life. You must continue to receive vitamin B ₁₂ even if you feel well, in order to prevent future problems.

Missed dose - If you miss taking a vitamin for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in vitamins. However, if your health care professional has recommended that you take this vitamin, try to remember to take it as directed.

Storage - To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplement or those no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.