What is the Difference Between Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin

The key difference between cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin is that cyanocobalamin starts to act about a week after continuous uptake, whereas hydroxocobalamin starts to act straight away after the uptake.

Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are manufactured versions of vitamin B12. These are important in treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cyanocobalamin  
3. What is Hydroxocobalamin
4. Cyanocobalamin vs Hydroxocobalamin in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Cyanocobalamin vs Hydroxocobalamin

What is Cyanocobalamin

Cyanocobalamin is a manufactured version of vitamin B12. This is useful as a supplement for treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency. Usually, our body requires vitamin B12 in order to make red blood cells. We can get vitamin B12 through the food we eat and the supplements we take. However, this consumption does not sometimes give enough vitamin B12, most often, if we are vegan and not eating enough meat or dairy products. Moreover, some treatments can stop us from absorbing enough vitamin B12 that comes from food.

Cyanocobalamin is available in the form of tablets but not over the counter; we need a doctor’s prescription to get this medication. However, if the doctor recommends this vitamin to be taken as injections, usually what we get is hydroxocobalamin. It is another type of vitamin B12 commercial product. Other than the tablet and injection form, there are capsules, mouth sprays, and drops of vitamin B12.

This medication typically acts by increasing the level of vitamin B12 in our blood. We may have to take cyanocobalamin tablets on a daily basis in order to prevent the vitamin B12 deficiency. The symptoms of this deficiency start to improve after taking this medication for about a week. We can stop using the supplement if the cyanocobalamin level in our blood returns to a suitable level.

What is Hydroxocobalamin?

Hydroxocobalamin is a type of commercially available vitamin B12 supplement. It is useful in treating vitamin B12 deficiency. This supplement is available on prescription. This medication is given in the form of an injection.

Hydroxocobalamin tends to start working as soon as it is injected. However, the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency tend to improve in a few days. In the beginning, we may have to take the injection a few times per week to get the required amount of vitamin. There can be side effects such as feeling or being sick and diarrhea. Moreover, we can use this injection for a long time because it is safe, and more importantly, some people need this injection for the rest of their lives.

This injection is suitable for most people but not for all. It is not suitable if you ever had an allergic reaction to hydroxocobalamin or any other medication, if you have low potassium levels, and if you have an irregular or fast heartbeat.

Getting this injection can cause some pain, swelling, or itching in the area where the injection is given. However, these conditions are usually mild. The time period which we need to take this injection entirely depends on the response our body shows towards the injection.

What is the Difference Between Cyanocobalamin and Hydroxocobalamin?

Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are manufactured versions of vitamin B12. These are important in treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency. The key difference between cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin is that cyanocobalamin starts to act about a week after continuous uptake, whereas hydroxocobalamin starts to act straight away after the uptake. Moreover, cyanocobalamin is available as tablets, capsules, mouth sprays, drops, or injections, while hydroxocobalamin is used as injections into the muscle.

The following table summarizes the difference between cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin.

Summary – Cyanocobalamin vs Hydroxocobalamin

Cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are manufactured versions of vitamin B12. These are important in treating and preventing vitamin B12 deficiency. The key difference between cyanocobalamin and hydroxocobalamin is that cyanocobalamin starts to act about a week after continuous uptake, whereas hydroxocobalamin starts to act straight away after the uptake.

Reference:

1. “Hydroxocobalamin.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Various reduced forms of Cyanocobalamin” By LHcheM – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Drawing-syringes-with-needle” By Jkgroove – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia