Introduction About METHICO

METHICO contains Methylcobalamin, which belongs to the group of medicines called Vitamins. METHICO is used to manage peripheral neuropathies (peripheral nerve damage that affects hands, feet, and arms) and megaloblastic anaemia (blood disorder that occurs due to abnormal production of red blood cells) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency in affected individuals.

METHICO is not recommended for use in patients allergic to mecobalamin and/or other B12-containing medicines. It is also not recommended for use in patients with Leber’s disease (an inherited form of vision loss).

Before taking METHICO, inform your doctor if you are in an occupation of handling mercury and/or have kidney problems (such as renal failure) or liver problems (such as hepatic impairment).

METHICO is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women. It should be used with caution in children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) and is advised to be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years and above) after consulting the doctor.

The most common side effects of taking METHICO are weakness, headache, back pain, muscle pain, indigestion, nausea, and/or vomiting. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects worsen.

Uses Of METHICO

• Manage peripheral neuropathies
• Manage megaloblastic anaemia (caused by vitamin B12 deficiency) in affected individuals

How METHICO Works

METHICO works by aiding in the synthesis of myelin (a lipid-rich material that covers nerve fibers), which helps in protecting the nerve fibers and thereby providing relief from painful diabetic neuropathy in affected individuals. It also promotes nucleic acid synthesis in the bone marrow, which helps in the maturation and division of erythroblasts, thus managing poor production of red blood cells and thereby improving megaloblastic anemia in affected individuals.

How to use METHICO

Tablet:

Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Oral Disintegrating Tablet:

Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Place METHICO inside your mouth and allow it to dissolve completely. Do not swallow or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Sublingual Tablet:

Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Place METHICO under the tongue till it dissolves. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Side Effects Of METHICO

How To Manage Side Effects

Diarrhea

Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Try to avoid taking any medicine on your own to manage diarrhea. Consult your doctor if diarrhea worsens.

Headache

If METHICO causes headache, then take rest and drink plenty of fluids. Try to avoid drinking alcohol. Ask your doctor to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking METHICO. Consult your doctor if a headache persists.

Indigestion

Try to have smaller and more frequent meals and drink slowly. Reduce consumption of coffee, cola, tea, or alcohol and lose weight if you are obese. Try to avoid smoking and don’t have rich, fatty, or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the digestion does not improve.

Nausea And Vomiting

Take METHICO with or just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil-rich or spicy foods, sugary snacks, and drinks. Avoid drinking too much liquid along with your meals, drink slowly in between meals. Talk with your doctor if the nausea and vomiting worsen.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

Contraindicated

METHICO is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking METHICO.

Breastfeeding

Contraindicated

METHICO is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking METHICO.

Kidney

Use with Caution

METHICO should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems such as renal failure. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

Liver

Use with Caution

METHICO should be used with caution in patients with liver problems such as hepatic impairment. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

Allergy

Contraindicated

Do not take METHICO if you are allergic to mecobalamin, other B12-containing medicines, and/or any other ingredients of this medicine.

Use In Pediatrics

Use with Caution

METHICO should be used with caution in children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years). Consult your doctor before administering the medicine to the child.

Use In Geriatrics

Use with Caution

METHICO should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged above 65 years). Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

Interactions

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking METHICO, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

• Neomycin (used to manage bacterial skin infections)
• Amino salicylic acid (used to manage tuberculosis)
• Histamine H2-antagonists (used to manage recurrence of duodenal ulcers) Ex. ranitidine, famotidine 
• Colchicine (used in the management of gout)
• Oral contraceptives (used to manage pregnancy) Ex. ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone
• Chloramphenicol (used to manage bacterial infections)
• Omeprazole (used to manage gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally takes too much of METHICO, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital to manage overdose symptoms.

Synopsis

More Information

FAQs About METHICO

Q: What is METHICO used for?

A: METHICO is used to manage peripheral neuropathies (peripheral nerve damage that affects hands, feet, and arms) and megaloblastic anaemia (blood disorder that occurs due to abnormal production of red blood cells), which occurs due to deficiency of vitamin B12 in affected individuals.

Q: How METHICO be taken?

A: For Tablet: Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

For Oral Disintegrating Tablet: Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Place METHICO inside your mouth and allow it to dissolve completely. Do not swallow or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

For Sublingual Tablet:

Take METHICO as advised by your physician. Place METHICO under the tongue till it dissolves. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Q: What are the side effects of METHICO?

A: The most common side effects of taking METHICO are weakness, headache, back pain, muscle pain, indigestion, nausea, and/or vomiting. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects worsen.

Q: How METHICO works?

A: METHICO works by aiding in the synthesis of myelin (lipid-rich material that covers nerve fibers), which helps in protecting the nerve fibers and thereby providing relief from painful diabetic neuropathy in affected individuals. It also promotes nucleic acid synthesis in the bone marrow, which helps in the maturation and division of erythroblasts, thus managing poor production of red blood cells and thereby improving megaloblastic anaemia in affected individuals.

Q: Can METHICO be used in pregnant and breastfeeding women?

A: No, METHICO is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women since it may cause some undesirable effects to the foetus and breastfed baby. Consult your doctor before taking METHICO.

Q: Is METHICO safe for kids?

A: METHICO should be used with caution in children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years). Consult your doctor before administering the medicine to the child.

Q: What precautions must be taken while using METHICO?

A: METHICO should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems such as renal failure and liver problems such as hepatic impairment. Consult your doctor before taking the medicine.

Q: Who should not take METHICO?

A: METHICO is not recommended for use if you have Leber’s disease (inherited form of vision loss), are allergic to mecobalamin, or are taking other B12-containing medicines.

Q: Can I take METHICO daily?

A: Always take METHICO as advised by your doctor. Do not take more than the recommended daily dose. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Q: Is METHICO good for nerves?

A: METHICO is a form of vitamin B12 that helps in the production of DNA, RNA, and proteins. It also helps regenerate nerves and aids in the formation of lecithin, which helps repair damaged nerves.

References

1. KD. Tripathi. Drugs affecting blood and blood formation, Vitamins. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Seventh Edition. 2013. Page – 606.

2. Advait Vasavada; Devang Sanghavi. Cyanocobalamin.  NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. StatPearls [Internet]. September 2022. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555964/

3. A S M Al Amin; Vikas Gupta. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin).  NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. StatPearls [Internet]. June 2022. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559132/

4. Rabia G. Sezer, Abdulkadir Bozaykut, Handan A. Akoglu, and Gül N. Özdemir. The Efficacy of Oral Vitamin B12 Replacement for Nutritional Vitamin B12 Deficiency. NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubMed.gov. March 2018. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29189512/

5. Emmanuel Andrès, Thomas Vogel, Laure Federici, Jacques Zimmer, Ecaterina Ciobanu, and Georges Kaltenbach. Cobalamin Deficiency in Elderly Patients: A Personal View. NIH National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC PubMed Central. May 2008. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672039/

6. Getz Pharma (Pvt) Ltd. Nervon. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://getzpharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Nervon-Range-Leaflet-Export-GA.pdf

7. Mova Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd. MOVACOBAL MD 3. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] http://movapharma.com/cod-division.php

8. Micro Labs Ltd. Meconerv Tablet. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://www.microlabsltd.com/elibrary/node/1908

9. Kivonyx Healthcare. Vibicol SL. [Accessed on 2nd August 2024] https://www.kivonyx.com/product/Vibicol-SL

Useful Diagnostic Tests

• Nerve conduction test 
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)/ Hemogram
• Vitamin B-12
• Complete Vitamins Profile
• Healthy Midlife Checkup
• Men Health Checkup - Advanced
• Complete Women Checkup
• Women Health Checkup - Essential
• Full Body Checkup – Gold
• Full Body Checkup – Silver

Author Details

Written By Dr. N. Sai Swaroop - Pharm.D

Reviewed By Dr. Sankara Babu Gorle - MBBS, MD(Pharmacology) View profile

Last updated on 05 Aug 2024 | 04:44 PM(IST)