MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL

Department of Pharmacy

Department of Nursing

Critical Care

Generic Name: Thiamine
Trade Name: Betalin
ACTION: Vitamin Supplement
Indications: Wernicke's Encephalopathy

Pellagra

Beriberi

Recovery from alcoholic coma

Administration Guidelines:
Usual Dosage Range and Route: 50 - 100 mg intramuscular or by slow IVP over 5 minutes repeated daily until oral therapy can be substituted.

24 HOUR CUMULATIVE DOSE: 300 mg

Special Considerations: - Intramuscular administration is the preferred route. There is a significant increase in the incidence of side effects associated with intravenous administration.

- Anaphylaxis may occur in susceptible patients

Precautions and Side Effects: - Warmth, Tingling

- Urticaria, Pruritus

- Respiratory Distress, Pulmonary edema

- Vasodilation, Hypotension, Cardiovascular collapse

 

REV:June97