Nutritional Neuropathy Medication

  • Author: R Andrew Sewell, MD; Chief Editor: Nicholas Lorenzo, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 27, 2010
 

Medication Summary

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce morbidity and prevent complications.

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Vitamins

Class Summary

To treat a nutritional neuropathy, replacing the deficient nutrients is necessary. This may involve administration of folate, thiamine (vitamin B 1 ), nicotinamide, pyridoxine (vitamin B 6 ), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B 12 ), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin A, or protein.

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Thiamine (Thiamilate)

 

For thiamine deficiency syndromes.

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Niacin (Vitamin B 3 )

 

Source of niacin used in tissue respiration, lipid metabolism, and glycogenolysis.

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Cyanocobalamin (Crystamine)

 

Deoxyadenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin are active forms of vitamin B 12 in humans. Vitamin B 12 synthesized by microbes but not humans or plants. Vitamin B 12 deficiency may result from intrinsic factor deficiency (pernicious anemia), partial or total gastrectomy, or diseases of distal ileum.

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Folate (Folvite)

 

Important cofactor for enzymes used to produce RBCs.

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Alpha-tocopherol (Vita-Plus E Softgels, Vitec, Aquasol E)

 

Protects polyunsaturated fatty acids in membranes from attack by free radicals and protects RBCs against hemolysis.

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Multivitamins (MVI-12, Cernevit-12)

 

Dietary supplement.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

R Andrew Sewell, MD  Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry and Mental Illness Research, Education,Veterans Affairs Connecticut Health Care System, Yale University School of Medicine

R Andrew Sewell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Headache Society, American Pain Society, and American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Lawrence D Recht, MD  Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences, Stanford University Medical School

Lawrence D Recht, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Neurological Association, and Society for Neuroscience

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Milind J Kothari, DO  Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Neurology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Neurology, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Milind J Kothari, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and American Neurological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Glenn Lopate, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Division of Neuromuscular Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine; Director of Neurology Clinic, St Louis ConnectCare; Consulting Staff, Department of Neurology, Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Glenn Lopate, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Baxter Grant/research funds Other; Amgen Grant/research funds None

Selim R Benbadis, MD  Professor, Director of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida College of Medicine

Selim R Benbadis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Epilepsy Society, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: UCB Pharma Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Lundbeck Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Cyberonics Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Speaking, consulting; Sleepmed/DigiTrace Honoraria Speaking, consulting

Chief Editor

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD  Consulting Staff, Neurology Specialists and Consultants

Nicholas Lorenzo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Neurology, and American College of Physician Executives

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Pernicious anemia. Characteristic lemon-yellow–tinged pallor with raw-beef tongue lacking filiform papillae. Used with permission from Forbes and Jackson.
Ischemic retinopathy caused by severe megaloblastic anemia.
 
 
 
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