Meribin (Oral)

Biotin supplements are used to prevent or treat biotin deficiency.

Vitamins are compounds that are essential for growth and health. You need them in only small amounts, and they are usually found in the foods you eat. Biotin is necessary for making fatty acids and glucose, which your body uses for energy. It is also important for the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates.

A lack of biotin is rare. However, if it happens, it may cause skin rash, hair loss, high cholesterol levels, and heart issues.

Some conditions may increase your need for biotin. These include:

• Genetic disorder of biotin deficiency
• Seborrheic dermatitis in infants
• Surgical removal of the stomach

Your health care professional should determine if you need more biotin.

There is no proof that biotin supplements effectively treat acne, eczema (a type of skin disorder), or hair loss.

Biotin supplements can be bought without a prescription.

For good health, it is important to eat a balanced and varied diet. Follow any diet program your health care professional recommends. For your specific vitamin and/or mineral needs, ask your health care professional for a list of appropriate foods. If you believe you are not getting enough vitamins and/or minerals in your diet, you may decide to take a dietary supplement.

Biotin is found in various foods, including liver, cauliflower, salmon, carrots, bananas, soy flour, cereals, and yeast. Cooking and preserving food can reduce the biotin content.

Vitamins alone cannot replace a good diet and will not provide energy. Your body also needs other substances found in food, such as protein, minerals, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins cannot function without the presence of other foods.

The daily amount of biotin needed is defined in several different ways.

• For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amounts of vitamins and minerals needed for adequate nutrition in most healthy people. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to show the percentage of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DVs replace the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

• For Canada—
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed for adequate nutrition and to lower the risk of chronic disease.

Since a lack of biotin is rare, there is no RDA or RNI for it. Normal daily recommended intakes for biotin are generally defined as follows:

• Infants and children— Birth to 3 years of age: 10 to 20 micrograms (mcg). 4 to 6 years of age: 25 mcg. 7 to 10 years of age: 30 mcg.
• Adolescents and adults— 30 to 100 mcg.

If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For this supplement, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Problems in children have not been reported with normal daily recommended amounts.

Geriatric

Problems in older adults have not been reported with normal daily recommended amounts.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, but in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if there might be an interaction. In these situations, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Some medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or certain types of food because interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

No side effects have been reported for biotin in amounts up to 10 milligrams a day. However, check with your health care professional if you notice any unusual effects while you are taking it.

In the U.S.

• Appearex
• Genadur
• Meribin
• Nail-ex

Available Dosage Forms:

• Capsule, Liquid Filled
• Tablet, Chewable
• Tablet
• Capsule
• Tablet, Disintegrating

Therapeutic Class: Nutritive Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Vitamin B (class)

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules or tablets): To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes: Adults and teenagers—30 to 100 micrograms (mcg) per day. Children 7 to 10 years of age—30 mcg per day. Children 4 to 6 years of age—25 mcg per day. Children birth to 3 years of age—10 to 20 mcg per day. To treat deficiency: Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss taking biotin supplements for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in biotin. However, if your health care professional has recommended that you take biotin, try to remember to take it as directed every day.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate. Keep from freezing.

Store the dietary supplement in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.