Cyanocobalamin: brand names and study card

Generic name

Cyanocobalamin

Brands

Nascobal

Class

Vitamin B12

Mechanism

Converted to coenzyme B12; needed for methylmalonate-to-succinate conversion and methionine synthesis, regenerating tetrahydrofolate.

Used for

Adult pernicious-anemia maintenance after remission with intramuscular B12, without nervous-system involvement; Adult dietary, drug-induced or malabsorption-related B12 deficiency other than pernicious anemia; Prevention of B12 deficiency in adults with increased requirements

Common side effects

Infection; Headache; Glossitis; Paresthesia; Rhinitis

Warnings

Severe optic atrophy has occurred with B12 treatment in early Leber disease; this cyanocobalamin product is not recommended in those patients; Cobalt/B12 hypersensitivity is a contraindication; anaphylaxis and death have been reported after parenteral B12; B12 can mask folate deficiency; intensive treatment of severe megaloblastic anemia can cause hypokalemia

Interactions

Chloramphenicol

Label date: 20240301 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.