The treatment for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia depends on what's causing the condition. Most people can be easily treated with injections or tablets to replace the missing vitamins. Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, in a form called hydroxocobalamin. At first, you'll have these injections every other day for two weeks, or until your symptoms have stopped improving. Your GP or nurse will give the injections. After this initial period, your treatment will depend on whether the cause of your vitamin B12 deficiency is related to your diet. The most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK is pernicious anaemia, which isn't related to your diet. Read more about the causes of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. If your vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by a lack of the vitamin in your diet, you may be prescribed vitamin B12 tablets to take every day between meals. Alternatively, you may need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin twice a year.
People who find it difficult to get enough vitamin B12 in their diets, such as those following a vegan diet, may need vitamin B12 tablets for life. Although it's less common, people with vitamin B12 deficiency caused by a prolonged poor diet may be advised to stop taking the tablets once their vitamin B12 levels have returned to normal and their diet has improved. Good sources of vitamin B12 include: If you're a vegetarian or vegan, or are looking for alternatives to meat and dairy products, there are other foods that contain vitamin B12, such as yeast extract (including Marmite), as well as some fortified breakfast cereals and soy products. Check the nutrition labels while food shopping to see how much vitamin B12 different foods contain. If your vitamin B12 deficiency isn't caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in your diet, you'll usually need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every three months for the rest of your life. If you've had neurological symptoms (symptoms that affect your nervous system, such as numbness or tingling in your hands and feet) caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, you'll be referred to a haematologist, and you may need to have injections every two months.
Your haematologist will advise on how long you need to keep taking the injections. For injections of vitamin B12 given in the UK, hydroxocobalamin is preferred to an alternative called cyanocobalamin. This is because hydroxocobalamin stays in the body for longer. If you need regular injections of vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin would need to be given once a month, whereas hydroxocobalamin can be given every three months. Cyanocobalamin injections aren't routinely available on the NHS. However, if you need replacement tablets of vitamin B12, these will be cyanocobalamin. To treat folate deficiency anaemia, your GP will usually prescribe daily folic acid tablets to build up your folate levels. They may also give you dietary advice so you can increase your folate intake. Good sources of folate include: Most people need to take folic acid tablets for about four months. However, if the underlying cause of your folate deficiency anaemia continues, you may have to take folic acid tablets for longer – possibly for life.
Before you start taking folic acid, your GP will check your vitamin B12 levels to make sure they're normal. This is because folic acid treatment can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that it masks an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency. If a vitamin B12 deficiency isn't detected and treated, it could affect your nervous system. To ensure your treatment is working, you may need to have further blood tests. A blood test is often carried out around 10-14 days after starting treatment to assess whether treatment is working. This is to check your haemoglobin level and the number of the immature red blood cells (reticulocytes) in your blood. Another blood test may also be carried out after approximately eight weeks to confirm your treatment has been successful. If you've been taking folic acid tablets, you may be tested again once the treatment has finished (usually after four months). Most people who have had a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency won't need further monitoring unless their symptoms return, or their treatment is ineffective.
If your GP feels it's necessary, you may have to return for an annual blood test to see whether your condition has returned. Page last reviewed: 16/05/2016 Next review due: 01/05/2019 Home International Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection may be available in the countries listed below. In some countries, this medicine may only be approved for veterinary use. Ingredient matches for Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection Cyanocobalamin is reported as an ingredient of Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection in the following countries: Folic Acid is reported as an ingredient of Folic Acid & Vitamin B12 Injection in the following countries: ← international database is in BETA release. This means it is still under development and may contain inaccuracies. It is not intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgement of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
It should not be construed to indicate that the use of any medication in any country is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Consult with your healthcare professional before taking any medication.Return to product's list Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement for the treatment of macrocytic anaemia in horses and dogs Folic Acid & Folic Acid Vitamin B12 Aug16.pdf Folic B12 injection_Dec14.pdf COMPOSITIONFolic acid 15 mg/mL, Cyanocobalamin (Vit B 12) 500 ug/mL ACTIONSSupplementation of Folic Acid and Vitamin B12INDICATIONSFolic Acid and Vitamin B12 supplement for the treatment of macrocytic anaemia in horses and dogs.DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATIONAdminister intramuscularly twice weekly or as directed by a veterinary surgeon. Horses : 5 to 10 mL Dogs : 1 to 2 mL PRESENTATION100 mL sterile multi-dose glass vialSTORAGEStore below 25°C (Air Conditioning). Protect from light (always store in box). AVAILABILITYFor General Sale (APVMA 51116) How do vitamin B12 and folic acid interact with each other?