Thiamine

Generic Name: thiamine (THIGH-uh-min)
Brand Name: Generic only. No brands available.

Thiamine is used for:

Treating or preventing low levels of thiamine (vitamin B₁).

Thiamine is a vitamin. Thiamine (vitamin B₁) is important in carbohydrate (sugar and starch) metabolism, maintenance of normal growth, and transmission of nerve impulses.

Do NOT use thiamine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in thiamine

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

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Before using thiamine:

Some medical conditions may interact with thiamine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with thiamine. However, no specific interactions with thiamine are known at this time.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if thiamine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use thiamine:

Use thiamine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Thiamine may be taken with or without food.
• If you miss a dose of thiamine for 1 or more days, there is no cause for concern. If your doctor recommended that you take it, try to remember your dose every day.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use thiamine.

Important safety information:

• Do not take large doses of vitamins (megadoses or megavitamin therapy) unless directed by your doctor.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking thiamine, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using thiamine during pregnancy. It is unknown if thiamine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using thiamine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of thiamine:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Feeling of warmth; fluid retention; flushing; hives; itching; nausea; restlessness; sweating; tingling; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bluish skin or discoloration.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include hypersensitivity or allergic reaction (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

Store thiamine at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Keep thiamine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about thiamine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Thiamine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take thiamine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about thiamine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to thiamine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using thiamine.

Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.