Can Vitamin K Be Administered Intravenously

Posted on Thu, 14 Aug 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 Answered on

Tue, 2 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : If a person cannot tolerate an oral intake of Vitamin K then is it reckless to administer it by IV instead of by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection? Why?

Answered by Dr. Het Ram Bishnoi (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
VITAMIN "K"

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
Question :Is it reckless to administer VITAMIN "K" by IV rout?
Ans NO
Vitamin K is a fat soluble and absorbed from intestine by oral rout, while water soluble forms are absorbed directly into portal blood .
Menadiol sodium diphosphate is available as 5 mg tablet for oral use but also AVAILABLE 10 mg /ml injection for intramuscular as well as for INTRAVENOUS rout.
WARNING :Rapid I V ( INTRAVENOUS ) injections of emulsified vitamin "K" produces flushing, breathlessness, a sense of constriction in the chest, fall in blood pressure All these side effects are due to emulsion form of the preparation.
So VITAMIN "K" can be given IV very slow or diluted with distilled water .
Hope I have answered your question.
Further any question I will reply in follow up.
Good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Het Ram Bishnoi (5 hours later)

Thank you Dr Bishnoi. I've heard that the administration of Vitamin K can cause anaphylaxis? Would you say that if 1 mg of Vitamin K is administered by IV route either slowly or with distilled water then there is little risk that this problem will occur?

Answered by Dr. Het Ram Bishnoi (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
different dosage forms are available

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX.
Once again thanks for the question.
Rapid IV injection of emulsified Vitamin K produces ANAPHYLAXIS but rarely .
The best way is dilute Vitamin "K" with distilled water and I V very slowly introduce .
But keep one thing in brain that it should not be in EMULSION form.
You mentioned that 1 mg only ? Yes this is the safest way , first of all dilute 1 mg in D W and give IV .
After 3-4 hours give 10 mg /ml in IV form diluted .
Further any question I will reply happily.
Good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Het Ram Bishnoi (19 minutes later)

Thank you again Dr Bishnoi for the information. Would you say that the administration of Vitamin K is justified if the person has an INR of 2.1 but is NOT on warfarin or any other anticoagulant? Or is it justified only if there is some additional reason for administering it?

Answered by Dr. Het Ram Bishnoi (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
explained in detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX
Let me explain in detail so that you will get full desired answer:
Menadione ( vitamin K3 ) should not be used for this purpose:
To reverse the effects of overdose of oral anticoagulant( as warfarin) ;Phytonadione is the preparation of choice , because it acts as most rapidly; dose depends on the severity of HYPOPROTHROMBINEMIA ( measure in INR as you mentioned 2.1) and bleeding.
Unnecessary high dose is to be avoided because it will render the patients unresponsive to oral anticoagulant for several days .
While for other additional reason you can give Vitamin K .
Good luck .
Further any question I will reply happily.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E