VITAMIN K

Brand & Generic Names

AquaMEPHYTON
Konakion
Menadione
MENADIOL
Mephyton
PHYTONADIONE
Synkayvite

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? No
• Available as generic? No
• Drug class: Vitamin supplement

Uses

• Dietary supplement.
• Treatment for bleeding disorders and malabsorption diseases due to vitamin K deficiency.
• Treatment for hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
• Treatment for bleeding due to overdose of oral anticoagulants.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Usually given by injection in hospital or doctor's office.
Tablet--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same time each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 12 hours late. If more than 12 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Promotes growth, development and good health.
Supplies a necessary ingredient for blood clotting.

Time lapse before drug works:
15 to 30 minutes to support blood clotting.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Nausea, vomiting.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

None expected.

Infrequent:

Unusual taste, face flushing.

Rare:

Rash, hives.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to vitamin K.
• You have G6PD* deficiency.
• You have liver disease.

Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you are pregnant.

Over age 60:
No problems expected.

Pregnancy:
Don't exceed dose. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Phytonadione is the preferred form for hemorrhagic disease of the newborn.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check prothrombin time.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No problems expected.

Others:

• Tell all doctors and dentists you consult that you take this medicine.
• Don't exceed dose. Too much over a long time may be harmful.
• A balanced diet should provide all the vitamin K a healthy person needs and make supplements unnecessary. Best sources are green, leafy vegetables, meat or dairy products.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticoagulants*,	Decreased anticoagulant effect.
Cholestyramine	Decreased vitamin K effect.
Colestipol	Decreased vitamin K absorption.
Dapsone	Increased risk of adverse effect
	on blood cells.
Mineral oil	Vitamin K deficiency.
Neomycin	Decreased vitamin K absorption.
Sulfa drugs*	Vitamin K deficiency.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	None expected.
Tobacco:	None expected.