Thiamine Hydrochloride
Indications
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is used to:
- Prevent and treat vitamin B1 deficiency, including beriberi, which affects the nerves and heart
- Prevent and treat deficiency in people with heavy alcohol use, poor diet, long-term vomiting, or after weight-loss surgery
- Treat Wernicke's encephalopathy (a serious brain problem caused by B1 deficiency), with high-dose injections in hospital
It is also a common part of B-complex and multivitamin products.
How It Works
Thiamine helps the body turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy. It is essential for healthy nerves, muscles, the heart and the brain.
Dosage and Administration
- Prevention or mild deficiency, adults: usually 10 to 25 mg a day by mouth.
- Treatment of deficiency or for people with heavy alcohol use: often 100 mg a day or more, in divided doses, as the doctor advises.
- Injection: given by a doctor or nurse for severe deficiency and Wernicke's encephalopathy, as prescribed.
Tablets can be taken with or without food.
Interactions
No important interactions are known at usual doses. Alcohol reduces thiamine absorption, and long-term use of Furosemide can lower thiamine levels.
Contraindications
Allergy to thiamine or any ingredient of the product (rare, and mainly with the injection).
Side Effects
Tablets are usually very well tolerated; mild stomach upset can occur. The injection can rarely cause a serious allergic reaction, so it is given where emergency treatment is available.
Get urgent medical help if, especially after an injection, there is swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, a widespread itchy rash, or feeling faint.
Pregnancy and Lactation
Safe at normal recommended doses during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The need for thiamine is slightly higher at these times, and severe vomiting in pregnancy can cause deficiency, so the doctor may advise a supplement.
Precautions and Warnings
- In people with heavy alcohol use or severe malnutrition, thiamine is given before or with glucose, because glucose alone can bring on Wernicke's encephalopathy; this is done in hospital.
- Confusion, unsteady walking or abnormal eye movements in someone with heavy alcohol use need urgent medical care.
Overdose
Extra thiamine taken by mouth is passed out in the urine, so harm is unlikely. Seek advice if a very large amount is taken.
Therapeutic Class
Vitamin B1 (water-soluble vitamin).
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.
All brands of Thiamine Hydrochloride