Gilenya

Does Gilenya cause vit B12 deficiency?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
Of the serious side effects given as warning for GILENYA users vitamin B12 deficiency is not listed as one. Also this drug does not appear to be causing vitamin B12 deficiency as a side effect.
Low intrinsic factor in gut that hampers absorption of B12 is the commonest cause of low B12 (also causes pernicious anemia). Other causes of low B 12 are parasites in the gut, diet poor in Vit B12, Crohn's disease, IBS, or poor metabolism by liver. Please consult a doctor to rule these out.
So, first your doctor needs to eliminate these causes. If these causes are ruled out, then probably you can report this as a side effect of GILENYA at Food and Drug Administration website. Hope this helps. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.