Parenteral Vitamin Therapy

Abstract

To the Editor:— In the above letter, in which it is stated that I saw reason for administering the B vitamins parenterally unless parenteral feeding was necessary, I am misquoted. My statement was that I saw no reason for administering these vitaminsintravenously. There are a number of indications for the intramuscular administration of vitamins of the B complex. I agree that there are certain acute psychotic states in which parenteral (usually intramuscular) administration of B vitamins is useful. At times the vitamins are given with glucose by vein. Many of these psychotic states are associated with alcoholism, and there is reason to believe that vitamin B-complex deficiency is playing a role in these syndromes. The psychotic state itself may increase metabolism and, hence, requirement of some of the B vitamins. Some psychoses in non-alcoholic patients also respond to vitamins of the B complex in therapeutic doses. In such