A Highly Potent Oral Antianemia Preparation

Each capsule contains:

with other factors of Vitamin B Complex present in the Liver-Stomach Concentrate.

Inactive Ingredients: D&C Red #28, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, gelatin, magnesium stearate, povidone, silicon dioxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, starch and titanium dioxide.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

Hematinic concentrate with intrinsic factor is a multifactor preparation effective in the treatment of anemias that respond to oral hematinics, including pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias and also iron-deficiency anemia. Therapeutic quantities of hematopoietic factors that are known to be important are present in the recommended daily dose.

One capsule twice a day. (Two capsules daily produce a standard response in the average uncomplicated case of pernicious anemia.)

Capsule, ruby red and opaque scarlet; imprinted E 5380, available in 10 x 10 unit dose packages.

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Protect from moisture.

Rx only

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

Rarely, iron in therapeutic doses produces gastrointestinal reactions, such as diarrhea or constipation. Reducing the dose and administering it with meals will minimize these effects in the iron-sensitive patient.

In extremely rare instances, skin rash suggesting allergy has been noted following the oral administration of liver-stomach material. Allergic sensitization has been reported following both oral and parenteral administration of folic acid.

No information provided.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

General

Anemia is a manifestation that requires appropriate investigation to determine its cause or causes. Folic acid alone is unwarranted in the treatment of proof vitamin B12 deficiency states, such as pernicious anemia.

Folic acid may obscure pernicious anemia in that the blood picture may revert to normal while neurological manifestations remain progressive.

As with all preparations containing intrinsic factor, resistance may develop in some cases of pernicious anemia to the potentiation of absorption of physiologic doses of VITAMIN B12. If resistance occurs, parenteral therapy, or oral therapy with so-called massive doses of VITAMIN B12 may be necessary for adequate treatment of the patient. No single regimen fits all cases, and the status of the patient observed in follow-up is the final criterion for adequacy of therapy. Periodic clinical and laboratory studies are considered essential and are recommended.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. It is also not known whether this product can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can effect reproduction capacity. It should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when this product is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 10 have not been established.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

Symptoms

Those of iron intoxication, which may include pallor and cyanosis, vomiting, hematemesis, diarrhea, melena, shock, drowsiness, and coma.

Treatment

For specific therapy, exchange transfusion and chelating agents. For general management, gastric and rectal lavage with sodium bicarbonate solution or milk, administration of intravenous fluids and electrolytes, and use of oxygen.

Hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis are contraindications to iron therapy.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

VITAMIN B12 with Intrinsic Factor

When secretion of intrinsic factor in gastric juice is inadequate or absent (e.g., in Addisonian pernicious anemia or after gastrectomy), VITAMIN B12 in physiologic doses is absorbed poorly, if at all. The resulting deficiency of VITAMIN B12 leads to the clinical manifestations of pernicious anemia. Similar megaloblastic anemias may develop in fish tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum) infection or after a surgically created small-bowel blind loop; in these situations, treatment requires freeing the host of the parasites or bacteria that appear to compete for the available VITAMIN B12. Strict vegetarianism and malabsorption syndromes may also lead to VITAMIN B12 deficiency. In the latter case, parenteral therapy, or oral therapy with so-called massive doses of VITAMIN B12, may be necessary for adequate treatment of the patient.

Potency of intrinsic factor concentrates is determined physiologically i.e., by their use in patients with pernicious anemia. The liver-stomach concentrate with intrinsic factor and the vitamin B12 contained in 2 capsules provide 1½ times the minimum amount of therapeutic agent, which, when given daily in an uncomplicated case of pernicious anemia, will produce a satisfactory reticulocyte response and relief of anemia and symptoms.

Concentrates of intrinsic factor derived from hog gastric, pyloric, and duodenal mucosa have been used successfully in patients who lack intrinsic factor. For example, Fouts et al. maintained patients with pernicious anemia in clinical remission with oral therapy (liver extracts or intrinsic factor concentrate with VITAMIN B12) for as long as 29 years.

After total gastrectomy, Ficarra found multifactor preparations taken orally to be just as effective in maintaining blood levels as any medication that has to be administered parenterally. His study was based on 24 patients who had survived for 5 years after total gastrectomy for cancer and who had been taking 2 capsules daily.

Folic Acid

Folic acid deficiency is the immediate cause of most, if not all, cases of nutritional megaloblastic anemia and of the megaloblastic anemias of pregnancy and infancy; usually, it is also at least partially responsible for the megaloblastic anemias of malabsorption syndromes, e.g., tropical and nontropical sprue.

It is apparent that in VITAMIN B12 deficiency (e.g., pernicious anemia), lack of this vitamin results in impaired utilization of folic acid. There are other evidences of the close folic acid-VITAMIN B12 interrelationship:

1. VITAMIN B12 influences the storage, absorption, and utilization of folic acid, and
2. as a deficiency of VITAMIN B12 progresses, the requirement for folic acid increases. However, folic acid does not change the requirement for VITAMIN B12.

Iron

A very common anemia is that due to iron deficiency. In most cases, the response to iron salts is prompt, safe, and predictable. Within limits, the response is quicker and more certain to large doses of iron than to small doses. Each capsule furnishes 110 mg of elemental iron (as ferrous fumarate) to provide a maximum response.

Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C plays a role in anemia therapy. It augments the conversion of folic acid to its active form, folinic acid. In addition, ascorbic acid promotes the reduction of ferric iron in food to the more readily absorbed ferrous form. Severe and prolonged vitamin C deficiency is associated with an anemia which is usually hypochromic but occasionally megaloblastic in type.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004

See WARNINGS, CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS.

Last updated on RxList: 12/8/2004