What is vitamin K medicine? Benefits and side effects of vitamin K

Today, health-related topics and the impact of nutrients on the human body’s performance have grown significantly as an important area in medical and health research. One of these important substances that plays a very important role in maintaining the health of the human body is vitamin K. Vitamin K is a group of fat-soluble compounds that can be found in a variety of foods and is involved in many biological activities in the body. In the following, we will review the uses, mechanism of action, precautions and contraindications for vitamin K medication and tips related to the use of this vitamin.

Pharmaceutical forms of vitamin K

1. Tablets of 100 micrograms and 5 mg
2. 2 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml injectable emulsion

Uses of vitamin K medicine

Vitamin K is used to treat and prevent low levels of certain substances (blood clotting factors) that your body produces naturally. These substances help to thicken the blood and stop bleeding normally (such as from a cut or accidental injury). Low levels of blood clotting factors will increase the risk of abnormal bleeding, which may be caused by certain medications (such as warfarin) or medical conditions (such as obstructive jaundice). Vitamin K helps to treat and prevent unusual bleeding by increasing the production of blood clotting factors in the body.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of vitamin K drug

The mechanism of action of vitamin K enhances the hepatic synthesis of coagulation factors II, VII, IX, X (the exact mechanism is unknown). The pharmacokinetics is 6-10 hours after oral administration and 1-2 hours after intravenous injection. The peak effect of the drug is in 24-48 hours in oral form and 12-14 hours in intravenous injection. Excretion is also done through urine and feces.

The amount of vitamin K medication

If you are taking this vitamin without a prescription and for self-medication, read all directions on the package before taking this medication. If you are using a fast-dissolving tablet, place it under your tongue until it dissolves, then swallow the medicine with or without water. Some brands of vitamin K may also be swallowed whole. Take the medicine according to the doctor’s order at equal hours, and do not increase, decrease or stop your dose without coordinating with him.

Time to take vitamin K medicine

In most cases, vitamin K is used in patients with a doctor’s prescription. The dosage is based on age, medical condition and response to treatment, do not reduce your dosage without consulting your doctor and avoid simultaneous use with other medications (without consulting your doctor). Taking more than the prescribed dose will not speed up your recovery and will only increase the risk of side effects. If you are taking a blood thinner (warfarin), vitamin K can reduce the effects of warfarin for up to 2 weeks. Be sure to take your vitamin K and warfarin exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Get medical help right away if you bruise or bleed easily, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem.

How to use vitamin K

1. The dosage of vitamin K as a food supplement is 120 micrograms per day for men, and 90 micrograms per day for women.
2. Hypoprothrombinemia due to drugs or agents that limit absorption or synthesis, 2.5-10 mg orally which may increase the PRN to 25 mg or rarely to 50 mg. Also, in some cases, 12 to 48 hours should be repeated.
3. Reversal of warfarin effects, omit 1-2 doses or withhold warfarin. Also monitor the INR and adjust the warfarin dose accordingly.
4. For an INR of 4.5-10 without bleeding, the 2012 ACCP guidelines against routine use suggest vitamin K1 (phytonadione) 1-2.5 mg orally once.
5. For an INR above 10, the 2012 ACCP guidelines recommend oral vitamin K1 (dose not specified). Note, if INR decreases within 24-48 hours, monitor INR and give additional vitamin K if needed.
6. Major bleeding at any elevated INR ACCP guidelines 2012 Prothrombin complex concentrate, human (PCC, Kcentra) with vitamin K1 5-10 mg IV (diluted in 50 mL IV fluid and infused over 20 minutes) Recommended.
7. Note that high doses of vitamin K (ie, 10 mg or more) may cause resistance to warfarin for a week or more. Consider the use of heparin, LMWH, or direct thrombin inhibitors to provide adequate thrombosis prevention in clinical situations requiring chronic anticoagulant therapy (eg, atrial fibrillation).

Precautions

Before taking vitamin K, if you are allergic to it or other ingredients in the medicine, avoid taking it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Consult your doctor if you have medical history, including heart disorders, history of blood clots, liver or kidney problems, gallbladder disease (such as obstructive jaundice, biliary fistula), etc. Vitamin K also passes into breast milk, but is unlikely to harm a nursing baby.

1. Rapid intravenous administration may cause potentially fatal anaphylaxis.
2. Avoid intramuscular injection in case of bleeding or in the third trimester of pregnancy.
3. Administer fetonadione to rapidly reduce INR to a safe range in patients receiving vitamin K antagonists.
4. Other forms of vitamin K (eg, menadione) are not effective in this setting. Only vitamin K1 (i.e. phytonadione) should be used.
5. If initial doses do not reverse coagulation, higher doses are likely to have no effect and are ineffective in hereditary hypoprothrombinemia.
6. Longer duration of treatment (up to months) and much higher doses required in patients exposed to long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides.
7. Hemolysis, hyperbilirubinemia, and jaundice have been reported in infants treated with higher than recommended doses.
8. Injection administration in some cases causes skin reactions. Reactions have included eczematous reactions, scleroderma spots, urticaria, and delayed hypersensitivity reactions. The onset time ranged from 1 day to 1 year after intravenous administration. Discontinue treatment for skin reactions and initiate medical management.
9. Serious side effects, including fatal reactions and “gasping syndrome,” have been reported in premature infants and infants in the intensive care unit who have received benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Premature and low birth weight infants may be more likely to develop these reactions because they are less able to metabolize benzyl alcohol.

Contraindications to the use of vitamin K drugs

1. Hypersensitivity

Important warnings of vitamin K

1. Severe reactions, including death, have occurred during and immediately after intravenous administration, even when precautions have been taken with appropriate dilution and avoidance of rapid infusion.
2. Severe reactions have also been reported after intramuscular injection. Typically, these severe reactions include hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis and include shock and cardiac or respiratory arrest.
3. Intravenous and intramuscular injection reactions have been reported and may occur with the first dose (without prior exposure to phytonadione).
4. Limiting the use of intramuscular and intravenous injection routes to situations where SC management is not possible and the serious risk involved is justified.

Side effects of vitamin K medicine

According to some reports, the use of vitamin K has no side effects. If your doctor has prescribed this medicine for you, remember that your doctor has judged that the benefits for you are greater than the risk of side effects. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. However, in case of allergic reactions such as skin rashes, itching and swelling (especially in the face, tongue and throat), severe dizziness, breathing problems, etc., stop taking the medicine and consult a doctor.

1. Shortness of breath
2. cyanosis
3. Erythematous skin rashes
4. itching
5. Scleroderma-like lesions
6. hot flashes
7. Hyperbilirubinemia (in premature babies)
8. high blood pressure
9. Injection site reaction
10. Changes in taste

Drug interaction of vitamin K

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Patients, before going to the doctor, prepare a list of chemical and herbal medicines you use and show it to the doctor. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without your doctor’s approval. Some “blood thinners” (such as acenocoumarol, warfarin), simultaneous use with orlistat (weight control drug) and… have caused drug interactions. Also, wait at least 2 hours between taking this drug and orlistat because their simultaneous use in some cases reduces the effect of vitamin K.

Taking vitamin K during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The formulation of this drug contains benzyl alcohol, which is associated with gasping syndrome in infants. The preservative benzyl alcohol can cause serious side effects and death when administered intravenously to infants. If treatment is needed during pregnancy, consider using a formulation without benzyl alcohol. Also, published studies on phytonadione use during pregnancy have not reported a clear association with phytonadione and adverse developmental outcomes. There are maternal and fetal risks associated with vitamin K deficiency during pregnancy.

Pregnant women with vitamin K deficiency hypoprothrombinemia may be at increased risk of bleeding diathesis during pregnancy and bleeding events during delivery. Maternal subclinical vitamin K deficiency during pregnancy has been implicated in rare cases of fetal intracranial hemorrhage.

The effect of vitamin K medication on breastfeeding

The drug formula contains benzyl alcohol, if available, preservative-free formulation is recommended. Phytonadione is present in breast milk, however there are no data on the effects of treatment on the baby or milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the clinical need for treatment and any possible adverse effects on the breastfed child from medication or the mother’s underlying disease.

Storage conditions for vitamin K medicine

Vitamin K medicine should be stored at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Also, all chemical and herbal medicines should be kept out of the reach of children and animals.

The last word of vitamin K medicine

In this article titled vitamin K drug from Positive Green online pharmacy magazine, the importance and role of vitamin K in preventing diseases and maintaining human health was discussed. The information presented shows that the proper use of this drug can be effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, strengthening the bone system and preventing bleeding problems. Also, due to the limited side effects, this vitamin is widely used in children and the elderly.

Site source: Medscape