Methycobal Injection
✅ Boosts nerve function
✅ Enhances red blood cells
✅ Alleviates nerve pain
✅ Improves nerve conduction
✅ Treats vitamin B12 deficiency
✓ Medically reviewed by Morgan Ellis — Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience · Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick Answer — What is Methycobal Injection?
Methycobal Injection contains mecobalamin 500 mcg — an active, bioavailable form of vitamin B12. It is prescribed for peripheral neuropathy, diabetic nerve pain, vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, and nerve-related conditions where the body cannot absorb oral B12 effectively. Manufactured by Eisai, it is given intramuscularly or intravenously by a healthcare professional.
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What Is Methycobal Injection?
Methycobal Injection is a sterile aqueous solution of mecobalamin 500 mcg per ampoule, the active, coenzyme form of vitamin B12. Manufactured by Eisai Pharmaceuticals, it is distinct from the more common cyanocobalamin preparations because mecobalamin is directly usable by the nervous system without needing further chemical conversion in the liver. This makes it the preferred B12 form in patients with nerve damage, diabetic neuropathy, or conditions that impair B12 metabolism.
The injection is supplied in 1 ml amber ampoules protected from light. The solution is a deep red colour — this is normal and reflects the cobalt atom at the centre of the cobalamin molecule. Methycobal is administered intramuscularly or, in hospital settings, intravenously.
Uses of Methycobal Injection
- Peripheral neuropathy — numbness, tingling, burning sensations and pain in hands and feet from nerve damage of various causes.
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy — one of the most common indications; mecobalamin supports myelin sheath repair and nerve conduction.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia — megaloblastic anaemia caused by inadequate B12 intake or absorption (pernicious anaemia, intestinal malabsorption).
- Post-herpetic neuralgia — persistent nerve pain after shingles.
- Nutritional neuropathies — alcohol-related, nutritional deficiency, or strict vegan diet without supplementation.
- Bell’s palsy and facial nerve disorders — as adjunctive therapy to standard treatment.
How Methycobal Works
Mecobalamin is a cofactor for two enzymes critical to neurological and haematological function. The first, methionine synthase, converts homocysteine to methionine — the precursor of S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM), the body’s universal methyl donor. SAM is essential for myelin synthesis, neurotransmitter production and DNA methylation. The second, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, is involved in fatty acid metabolism required for healthy nerve fibres.
When peripheral nerves are damaged (as in diabetes or trauma), mecobalamin supplementation provides the raw material for myelin sheath regeneration. Clinical studies demonstrate improvement in nerve conduction velocity, reduction in neuropathic symptoms and measurable nerve fibre density after sustained mecobalamin therapy.
Dosage and Administration
The standard adult dose of Methycobal Injection is 500 mcg (one ampoule) three times weekly, administered intramuscularly or intravenously. Dosage may be adjusted based on indication, severity and response:
| Condition | Dose |
|---|---|
| Peripheral neuropathy | 500 mcg IM/IV 3 times weekly, reducing as symptoms improve |
| B12 deficiency anaemia (initial) | 500 mcg IM daily for 2 weeks, then 3 times weekly until normalised |
| Maintenance therapy | 500 mcg IM every 1–3 months |
How to Use Methycobal Injection
Methycobal must be administered by a qualified healthcare professional. The ampoule is inspected (deep red colour is normal; discard if faded or cloudy), the solution is drawn into a sterile syringe, and the injection is given slowly — typically into the deltoid or gluteal muscle for IM, or via a peripheral vein for IV. The solution should be used immediately after opening and protected from direct light throughout preparation.
Side Effects of Methycobal Injection
- Common: mild pain or warmth at the injection site; headache; nausea; occasional loss of appetite.
- Uncommon: mild rash; diarrhoea; dizziness; transient elevation in blood pressure.
- Rare: anaphylactic reaction (rare with vitamin B12 — seek emergency care if signs occur); flushing; muscle cramps.
Mecobalamin is generally considered among the safest injectable medications because it is a naturally occurring vitamin; serious adverse effects are uncommon even at elevated doses.
Precautions and Warnings
- Hypersensitivity: contraindicated in patients with a known allergy to cobalamin or cobalt.
- Pregnancy and lactation: generally safe at physiological doses — B12 is a required nutrient. Use under medical guidance.
- Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON): use with caution; B12 may accelerate optic nerve damage in this rare genetic condition.
- Long-term mercury exposure: theoretical risk of methylmercury production — relevant only in industrial exposure contexts.
Drug Interactions
Several medications reduce vitamin B12 absorption or utilisation and may warrant mecobalamin supplementation: metformin (commonly causes B12 deficiency with long-term use), proton-pump inhibitors (omeprazole, pantoprazole), H2 blockers (ranitidine, famotidine), colchicine, chloramphenicol, and aminoglycosides. Nitrous oxide anaesthesia depletes B12 and may trigger deficiency symptoms in already-marginal patients.
Storage
Store Methycobal Injection at or below 25 °C, protected from light — the amber ampoule is designed for this purpose. Do not refrigerate unless specified by the manufacturer. Discard if the solution appears faded, cloudy or discoloured. Keep out of reach of children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Methycobal preferred over regular vitamin B12 tablets?
Oral B12 absorption requires intrinsic factor in the stomach and is frequently impaired in elderly patients, those with pernicious anaemia, or long-term metformin or PPI users. The injection bypasses the gut entirely, delivering 100% of the dose. Additionally, mecobalamin is the active form — it does not require liver conversion the way cyanocobalamin does — so it begins working immediately.
How quickly does Methycobal relieve nerve pain?
Most patients with peripheral neuropathy begin to notice reduced tingling and burning within 2–4 weeks of starting therapy. Objective improvements in nerve conduction studies typically appear after 8–12 weeks. Maximum benefit often requires 3–6 months of consistent therapy.
Is Methycobal safe for long-term use?
Yes. Vitamin B12 has no established upper toxicity limit because excess is excreted in urine. Long-term use (months to years) for chronic neuropathy or confirmed absorption defects is well tolerated.
Can I take Methycobal with metformin?
Yes — and in fact metformin is one of the commonest reasons for B12 deficiency. Patients on long-term metformin (more than 2 years) are routinely offered B12 supplementation. Methycobal and metformin do not interact directly.
Does Methycobal help diabetic neuropathy?
Mecobalamin is widely prescribed as an adjunctive therapy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. It does not replace glycaemic control — tight blood sugar management remains the most important intervention — but it provides symptomatic relief and supports nerve repair on top of standard diabetes care.
What is the difference between mecobalamin and cyanocobalamin?
Both are forms of vitamin B12. Cyanocobalamin is the synthetic form used in most over-the-counter supplements and requires conversion in the liver. Mecobalamin (the active form in Methycobal) is directly usable by the nervous system and is preferred for neuropathy and neurological indications.
Can I take oral Methycobal instead of the injection?
Oral mecobalamin tablets are available but have limited bioavailability in patients with absorption issues. The injection is preferred for established deficiency, diagnosed neuropathy, or when rapid correction is needed. Your physician can advise whether oral maintenance is appropriate once deficiency is corrected.
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| Strength | 500 mcg |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 5x1ml Ampoules, 10x1ml Ampoules, 20x1ml Ampoules, 30x1ml Ampoules |
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