Pregnant women: Vitamin B12 requirements during pregnancy (4 µg/day) are normally covered by the usual diet. On the other hand, tolerance of high doses of parenteral hydroxocobalamin is not unequivocally documented.

Nursing mothers: There is normally ample supply with the usual diet. Substitution only for strictly vegetarian mothers.

Children: When there is vitamin B12 deficiency, children are given 5 times the initial dose (same as adults) within 1 to 2 weeks. Maintenance dose the same as adults.

Elderly people: Pernicious anemia is an age related disease; no dose adjustment is necessary.

Renal failure: Renal patients sometimes do not respond adequately to vitamin B12: dose interval may have to be shortened.

Liver insufficiency: The storage capacity for vitamin B12 is reduced in hepatically impaired subjects. Dose interval may have to be shortened.

Table of Contents | Indications | Pharmacology | Adverse Reactions & Interactions | Contraindications & Cautions | References