1 May 2026Injectable drugsSource update: March 2024
Phytomenadione = Vitamin K1 injectable
Vitamin K1 guidance for prophylaxis and treatment of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Vitamin, anti-haemorrhagic.
Indications
Prophylaxis and treatment of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- 2 mg ampoule (10 mg/ml, 0.2 ml) for oral administration, IM injection, or slow IV injection.
Dose
Prophylaxis of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn
By IM route on the day of birth:
- Neonate under 1.5 kg: 0.5 mg single dose.
- Neonate 1.5 kg and over: 1 mg single dose.
Treatment of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn
By IM or slow IV route:
- 1 mg every 8 hours if necessary, depending on clinical evolution and coagulation test results.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- May cause allergic reactions, especially by IV route, and haematoma at IM injection site.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Also comes in 10 mg ampoules for use in adults only, for example in treatment of haemorrhage due to antivitamin K agents.
- Vitamin K1 is also used as prophylaxis for neonatal hypoprothrombinaemia in mothers treated with enzyme-inducing antituberculosis drugs during pregnancy: administer 10 mg/day orally for 15 days before birth.
- This maternal prevention does not change the need for IM administration of vitamin K in neonates.
- Do not dilute or mix with other drugs in the same syringe.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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