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Vitamins B & C Kyowa Kirin Intravenous high potency logo
Close up of an older person's eye which shows the reflection of a woman drinking, accompanied by 'Look a little deeper. Please look a little deeper and maybe you will find the impact of alcohol misuse that's affecting my mind'

Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin Intravenous High Potency, Concentrate for Solution for Infusion

MODE OF ACTION

Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin Intravenous High Potency, Concentrate for Solution for Infusion (Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin IVHP) is a parenteral therapy for rapid treatment of severe depletion or malabsorption of the water soluble vitamins B and C, including those related to alcohol misuse and malnutrition.1

Adverse Events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. Adverse Events should also be reported to Kyowa Kirin International UK NewCo Ltd, known as Grünenthal Meds on +44 (0)1896 664000, email PVUK@grunenthalmeds.com

Click here for prescribing information.

Mode of action

Thiamine deficiency is common in chronic alcohol misusers and may be caused by multiple factors such as malnutrition, reduction in absorption of thiamine and reduced ability to store and convert thiamine.2,3

Thiamine depletion causes cytotoxic oedema and other cellular biochemical changes within 4 days and, irreversible brain damage can occur by 14 days.4

A window of opportunity exists during which early changes to the brain can be reversed with sufficient parenteral thiamine.5  This permits rapid diffusion of thiamine across the blood brain barrier, providing therapeutic levels to the brain:6

Diffusion of thiamine across the blood brain barrier

Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin IVHP vs. oral thiamine

Oral thiamine is poorly absorbed and ineffective in treating WE. Treatment of WE requires high blood concentrations of thiamine which can only result from parenteral therapy.6

Recommended dose data

The recommended dose for Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin IVHP IV is for two pairs, three times a day for five days:

  • Treat with at least 500mg (2-3 pairs):
    • Between 56-84% of patients developed Korsakoff’s psychosis when treated with less than 250mg.7
  • Treat on a regular basis (3 times a day, for 5 days):
    • Thiamine has a half life of less than 96 minutes.8 3 doses a day are needed to maintain high plasma concentration.

Contents

Average:

  • References

    1. Vitamins B&C Kyowa Kirin Intravenous High Potency, Concentrate for Solution for Infusion Summary of Product Characteristics.

    2. Thomson AD. Alcohol & Alcoholism; 2000: 35(Supp 1):2-7.

    3. Hoyumpa AM Jr. Am J Clin Nutr 1980; 33: 2750–2761.

    4. Sechi G, Serra A. Lancet Neurology 2007; 6:442–455.

    5. Kopelman MD, Thompson AD, Guerrini I, et al Alcohol Alcohol 2009; 44:148–154.

    6. Thomson AD, et al. Alcohol & Alcoholism 2002; 37: 513–521.

    7. Thomson AD, Marshall EJ. Alcohol & Alcoholism. 2006; 41(2): 151-158.

    8. Latt N and Dore G. Internal Medicine Journal 2014; 44: 911-915.

    KKI/GB/PAB/0262 June 2024