Monday, May 28, 2012

Q: How much time does oral Vitamin K take to be effective?


Answer: About 24 hours

In absence of active bleeding, oral Vitamin K is always preferable. Only disadvantage is its slow action. IV vitamin K takes about 6 to 12 hours to achieve expected INR and oral Vitamin requires about 24 hours.

Though IV vitamin is faster than oral Vitamin K, it carries the chances of anaphylactoid reaction even with minor dose. Also less known side effect of IV Vitamin K is over-correction of anticoagulation.




Anaphylaxis after low dose intravenous vitamin K - J Emerg Med. 2003 Feb;24(2):169-72.

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