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Benfotiamine

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Description

Benfotiamine is a dietary supplement that contains Benfotiamine (Vitamin B1). It is used to treat vitamin B1 deficiency in the body. It is useful in conditions such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (a brain abnormality), diabetic nephropathy (a long-term kidney condition that occurs in people with diabetes), menstrual cramps, etc., caused due to the deficiency of Vitamin B1. It works by providing your body with an adequate amount of vitamin B1 required for the proper functioning of the body. Benfotiamine shows some common side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain, sweating, tightness in the throat, etc. These side effects usually subside with time. However, if they persist or become worse, consult your doctor for further assistance. Benfotiamine can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water. Take the tablet at the same time every day for the ease of remembering. Your doctor will decide the dose based on your clinical condition. Follow all instructions given by your doctor while taking the medication. Avoid consuming alcohol during treatment with Benfotiamine as it may alter the effects of this medicine. Benfotiamine is not recommended if you are allergic to it. It should be used with caution if you have kidney problems and malabsorption conditions. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking the medicine.
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Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Benfotiamine

Cough

Difficulty in swallowing

Itching

Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, or tongue

Difficulty in breathing

Diarrhoea

Stomach pain

Nausea

Uses of Benfotiamine

What is it prescribed for?

Beriberi

Beriberi is a condition that affects the nervous system and heart due to the deficiency of Vitamin B1. Benfotiamine provides the right amount of Vitamin B1 to restore normal body function.

Vitamin B1 deficiency

Vitamin B1 deficiency refers to low levels of vitamin B1(thiamine), which can cause many abnormalities in the body. Benfotiamine provides an adequate amount of Vitamin B1 for the proper functioning of the body.

Wernicke Encephalopathy

Wernicke Encephalopathy is a brain condition that causes loss of memory, disorientation and seeing or hearing things that are not real. Benfotiamine provides an adequate amount of Vitamin B1 to help alleviate this condition.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is a long-term kidney condition that occurs in people with diabetes. There is an increase in albumin (a chemical responsible for kidney conditions) in diabetic nephropathy. Benfotiamine decreases the amount of albumin in the urine in people with type 2 diabetes to help alleviate the problem.

Menstrual Cramps

Benfotiamine provides your body with an adequate amount of vitamin B1 to help reduce muscle cramps during the menstrual cycle.
Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action

    Benfotiamine starts increasing Vitamin B1 levels in your body within a few hours.

  • Duration of effect

    The time duration for which Benfotiamine remains active in the body is not clinically established.

  • Safe with alcohol?

    Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

  • Is it habit forming?

    No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Benfotiamine.

  • Usage in pregnancy?

    Due to the lack of information regarding the use of Benfotiamine during pregnancy, take it only upon your doctor's recommendation.

  • Usage while breast-feeding?

    It is unknown if Benfotiamine passes into breastmilk or not. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.

Allergy

Avoid taking Benfotiamine if you are allergic to it. . Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.

Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Due to the lack of information regarding the use of Benfotiamine during pregnancy, take it only upon your doctor's recommendation.

Breast-feeding

It is unknown if Benfotiamine passes into breastmilk or not. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.

General warnings

Other medicines

Benfotiamine may interact with many other medicines and cause side effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform your doctor about all your current medicines, including any herbs and supplements, before beginning treatment with Benfotiamine.

Alcohol consumption

Avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking Benfotiamine as it can interfere with the working of this medicine.

Use in children

Benfotiamine should be given to children under 12 years of age only when recommended by the doctor.

Missed Dose

Try not to miss the dose of Benfotiamine. In case you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Never take more than the recommended dose. Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Benfotiamine.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.

Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Instructions

Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.

Interaction with Medicine

Fluorouracil

Disease interactions

Kidney Disease

Use Benfotiamine with caution if you have kidney problems, as it may worsen your condition.

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is a digestive disorder in which the small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients from food. The absorption of Benfotiamine can be decreased in such a condition. Hence consult your doctor if you have malabsorption conditions, as he/she will advise you about dose adjustments or alternative treatments.

Food interactions

Information not available.

Lab interactions

Information not available.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible drug interactions. You should consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of the drugs you’re taking.
Benfotiamine can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water. Do not take more than the recommended dose. Avoid consumption of alcohol while taking the medicine. Take this medicine with caution if you have kidney problems or a malabsorption condition.

Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

Does not cause sleepiness

How it works

Benfotiamine works by providing your body with an adequate amount of vitamin B1 required for the proper functioning of the body.

Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Unknown

Approved

Classification

Category

Vitamins

Schedule

OTC

Drugs, H. and Supplements, H., 2022. Thiamine: MedlinePlus Supplements. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/965.html

nhs.uk. 2022. Thiamine: a medicine for treating vitamin B1 (or thiamine) deficiency. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/thiamine-vitamin-b1/#:~:text=You'll%20usually%20take%20thiamine,side%20effects%20are%20usually%20mild.

Martel, J., Kerndt, C., Doshi, H. and Franklin, D., 2022. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine). [online] Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482360/#:~:text=There%20have%20been%20no%20absolute,should%20avoid%20taking%20thiamin%20supplements.

Osiezagha, K., Ali, S., Freeman, C., Barker, N., Jabeen, S., Maitra, S., Olagbemiro, Y., Richie, W. and Bailey, R., 2022. Thiamine Deficiency and Delirium. [online] PubMed Central (PMC). Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3659035/

Va.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 30 June 2022].

https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/docs/Dysmenorrhea-508.pdf

Medicines.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 1 July 2022].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13814.pdf
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Information on this page was last updated on 4 Jul 2022

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.