ATC Group: B03BA Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin and analogues)

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of B03BA in the ATC hierarchy

Level Code Title
1 B Blood and blood forming organs
2 B03 Antianemic preparations
3 B03B Vitamin B12 and folic acid
4 B03BA Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin and analogues)

Group B03BA contents

Code Title
B03BA01 Cyanocobalamin
B03BA02 Cyanocobalamin tannin complex
B03BA03 Hydroxocobalamin
B03BA04 Cobamamide
B03BA05 Mecobalamin
B03BA51 Cyanocobalamin, combinations
B03BA53 Hydroxocobalamin, combinations

Active ingredients in B03BA

Active Ingredient Description
Adenosylcobalamin
Mecobalamin

Methylcobalamin is a cobalamin, a form of vitamin B12. Mecobalamin is a kind of endogenous coenzyme B12. Mecobalamin plays an important role in transmethylation as a coenzyme of methionine synthetase in the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine. Mecobalamin promotes axonal transport and axonal regeneration. Mecobalamin promotes myelination (phospholipid synthesis). Methylcobalamin is used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, and as a preliminary treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Vitamin B12

Hydroxocobalamin is used in the treatment and prevention of Vitamin B12 deficiency. For adults, the daily requirement of Vitamin B12 is probably about 1 to 2 micrograms and this amount is present in most normal diets. However, Vitamin B12 only occurs in animal products, not in vegetables, and therefore strict vegetarian or vegan diets that exclude dairy products may provide an inadequate amount, although a deficiency may not be apparent for many years.

Vitamin B12a

Hydroxocobalamin is a cyanide antidote. Its action in the treatment of cyanide poisoning is based on its ability to bind cyanide ions. Each hydroxocobalamin molecule can bind one cyanide ion by substituting it for the hydroxo ligand linked to the trivalent cobalt ion, to form cyanocobalamin, which is then excreted in the urine.

Related product monographs

Title Information Source Document Type  
METHYCOBAL Solution for injection Υπουργείο Υγείας (CY) MPI, EU: SmPC
METHYCOBAL Tablet Υπουργείο Υγείας (CY) MPI, EU: SmPC
NEO-CYTAMEN Solution for injection Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) MPI, EU: SmPC